First US-flagged Vessel Docks in Cuba in 40 Years

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, July 12, 2003

First US-flagged Vessel Docks in Cuba in 40 Years

An American-flagged vessel docked in Havana harbor on Friday for the first time in nearly four decades to deliver a cargo of wood and paper to Cuba.

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An American-flagged vessel docked in Havana harbor on Friday for the first time in nearly four decades to deliver a cargo of wood and paper to Cuba.

The Helen III, of Maybank Shipping firm, South Carolina, delivered six tons of wood and 1,614 tons of paper, which were imported by Cuban food company Alimport.

The 97-meter-long vessel acquired special authorization from the US government to enter Cuban waters. Washington imposed a blockade on the Caribbean nation since 1963.

Alimport Director Pedro Alvarez and President of Maybank, Jack Maybank, received the vessel at the port.

The shipment worth about 1.5 million US dollars was part of a contract to ship a total of 10,000 tons of cargo, said Alvarez.

After Hurricane Mitch swept Cuba in November, 2001, Washington offered Havana humanitarian assistance. But Havana opted to pay for shipments of necessary goods from the United States.

Cuba has purchased 1.4 million tons of US products valued at 480 million dollars, even though the two countries do not have formal relations.

According to Alvarez, 71 percent of the products purchased by Cuba have been delivered by American vessels which had to carry flags of other countries so as to get permission from the US Treasury Department.

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