Cuba Supply Vessel

...from another subject thread

I agree with your observations here Tad. In the late 90's I made a trip down to Cuba to explore and to look at a few business possibilties, as I felt we might be on the route of normalizing some of our relationships with them (well that got totally screwed up when George & Jeb Bush reverted to our old ways in order to get the Cuban vote in Fla).

One of the two best business options I came up with, that when things opened up there would be a mad rush by the resort hotelers to open up new resorts. That meant a high demand to get building materials to multiple ocean-side sites in Cuba. I looked at their rail and road systems and said these routes were not capable of accomplishing this in their present poor condition, and particularly since they are not expansive enough to reach some of these multiple sea-side locations.

Why not a shallow draft delivery vessel capable of landing these building materials right at the shore-side construction site. And this vessel would not likely have to be 'ocean going' as it would make an express run from the lower west coast of Fla (where the American railroad system ends) right straight down to a shallow beach landing area of the resort hotel construction. Multihull vessel with jet drives.

And in a business cash-flow model, wouldn't it be nice to do this business with Cuba without having to depend on a monetary payment from their government, nor a Cuban business entity......You got paid by the American entity who wanted those materials on site ASAP. You might have even demanded payment up front prior to departing USA.

I'll post a couple of concept pics I saved. Maybe a couple of units like these scaled down in size??

Be Prepared

Considering that it is a definite possibility we will have a new administration coming into power, and hopefully one that recognizes that we must finally get on to the business of doing business with Cuba, maybe its time to start some planning???

Confronting Customs & Cuba's Energy Problems

Rather less obvious to vessel design enthusiast is the question of ‘customs obligations & procedures’ when landing these special vessels & their cargo onto Cuban soil outside of the ‘traditional ports’.

When I visited Cuba it was onboard a pleasure built catamaran, and we had occasion to exit and re-enter a few ports along the north coast. The experiences with Cuban customs were, lets say,’challenging’ ones. I termed it the combination of the Spanish propensity for paper work and the Russian propensity for officialdom, or vice versa if you wish. Suffice it to say it will be necessary to work out an ‘arrangement’.

‘Arrangements’ in these situations can often be facilitated with greater ease if you bring something else to the table. Monetary bribes to the officialdom, either local or national are not going to be adequate or risk-free for this commercial venture....not an option

Rather I propose to implement my second business prospect:

This 2nd plan involves energy for the country….a subject that is plaguing many countries nowadays, both in cost & availability. Cuba is surely lacking in energy capabilities, and when it opens up to world trade it will surely demand this resource immediately. Its Russian oil supply has dried up, and the nuclear reactor that was under construction has not, and probably will never be completed.

I have a fantastic idea for them, but I can not reveal it on this forum for commercial reasons. Bringing this energy capability to them should insure one’s preferential status for other business activities in the country. (And this energy model is not just Cuba specific)

I was unaware of these actual operations, but suspected something like this was being done.

But even if they made a big discovery, how do they power up the country of Cuba itself. They lack substantial power stations and there is practically no power distribution system. If they chose to follow the 'western model' they certainly won't be up and running very quickly. And they have no refinery capabilities to produce the fuel to run those power stations.

I knew that.

Certainly recognize this fact, and this fuel source could be utilized for their vehicles, ala Brazil. But that still leaves their power grid system inoperable.

I believe this is still a big 'if', as I still see nothing on any proven reserves, and as I stated previously no existing 'power system' to utilize it if its found.

My idea does not require a country wide power distribition system, nor fuel from oil resources...nor wind, nor solar.


PS: And if it was highly likely that there were big reserves down there I suspect the USA would have much more than a causal interest, as forcasted by our interest around the world in any country with oil. Don't you think Bush & Co would have been working this angle??