(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- The Port of Miami and its partners are coordinating efforts to provide emergency aid to the people of Haiti. These humanitarian relief efforts are in response to the catastrophic earthquake which occurred in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010.

On January 14, 2010, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution R-01-10 authorizing the Port of Miami to waive port-related charges for Haitian-bound relief supplies. In addition, the Port of Miami is partnering with two long-standing relief agencies - Friend Ships Unlimited and Peace for Haiti - to directly provide humanitarian assistance to the Haitian earthquake victims using the Friend Ship vessel, Integrity. Individual members of the International Longshoremen's Association have also agreed to donate their time in loading the humanitarian aid and are part of a broader labor union effort donating aid to Haiti.

Seaboard Marine, Ltd., the Port of Miami's largest container carrier, is closely working with established United States governmental and international relief agencies. Seaboard has focused its partnerships with agencies that have proven, secure, and effective distribution networks within Haiti.

A.P. Moller-Maersk through its disaster relief efforts team donated equipment to the United Nations to help return Haiti's ports to working order. Port and logistics experts from APM Terminals Miami have been made available to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which is coordinating international relief efforts for Haiti. Miami has been designated as a back-up hub for WFP Haitian relief operations. APM Terminals has already begun to locate warehouse space in the Miami area to serve as logistics centers for the WFP. Terminal operations, including loading of relief and other related containerized equipment, will be provided to the WFP by APM Terminals at no charge.

Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., and Norwegian Cruise Lines, the Port of Miami's largest cruise lines, are providing Haiti with millions of dollars of humanitarian aid and relief, as well as providing assistance in the transportation of relief supplies from the Port of Miami.

These agencies among other include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), American Red Cross, Food for the Poor, Pan American Development Foundation, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children.

About the Port of Miami

The Port of Miami is among America's busiest ports and recognized across the globe with the dual distinction of being the Cruise Capital of the World and the Cargo Gateway of the Americas. The Port contributes more than $17 billion annually to the South Florida economy and helps provide direct and indirect employment for approximately 176,000 jobs. For additional information about the Port of Miami please visit: www.miamidade.gov/portofmiami.