Crowley Maritime Settles Helms-Burton Act Lawsuit Over Mariel Port
Crowley Maritime settled a lawsuit under the Helms-Burton Act regarding its use of the Port of Mariel, with the case dismissed in April 2026.Summary
Crowley Maritime Corporation has reached a confidential settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act for its use of the Port of Mariel. The plaintiff, Odette Blanco de Fernandez née Blanco Rosell, alleged that Crowley was trafficking in properties seized by the Cuban regime in 1960 by directing container ships to the Mariel Container Terminal. The lawsuit, initially filed in December 2020, was transferred to the Southern District of Florida and was administratively closed on February 5, 2026, before being formally dismissed with prejudice on April 28, 2026. The financial terms of the settlement remain confidential. Crowley is the only U.S. shipping line providing regular service to Cuba, conducting four monthly departures from Port Everglades. This case is part of a flurry of litigation activity under Title III, which was reinstated by the Trump administration in January 2025, allowing U.S. citizens to sue entities trafficking in expropriated Cuban properties.
(Source：Cubaheadlines)