Port Everglades Waives Tariff for Haiti Relief

Port Everglades, Fla., announced that it will waive tariffs for relief cargo being sent to Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Broward County port commissioners exercised a provision in the tariff schedule to waive all charges for humanitarian relief shipments, including docking fees at the port.

“Our tariff is written purposely to be able to respond readily to a disaster of the magnitude that has hit Haiti,” said Port Director Phil Allen.

In separate news, Maersk Lines officials reported that port facilities at Port-au-Prince had been destroyed by the quake. The company provides feeder service to Haiti, and one of its ships is now anchored offshore.

Maersk is considering the feasibility of using Punta Caucedo in the Dominican Republic to land relief supplies, using a smaller ship to ferry goods to Port-au-Prince.

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.