Desperation Over Casablanca Ferry Leads to Altercation, Halting Havana Bay Service

A heated dispute among passengers at Havana's Muelle de Luz led to the suspension of ferry service on Wednesday, disrupting the crucial connection between the terminal, Casablanca, and Regla. The commotion arose over disagreements regarding the destination of the sole available ferry.

According to Kenny Fernández Delgado, who shared the incident on Facebook, the altercation erupted around 4:10 PM as passengers bound for Regla and Casablanca clashed over the ferry's intended course.

Unable to manage the escalating tension and following a similar incident on a prior journey, the ferry captain opted to withdraw and head to the Port Authority, leaving everyone behind. The service halt was declared "until further notice."

A witness described the chaotic scene, noting that "a serious conflict ensued, and even a young man had a seizure," labeling the wait as "unbearable." Another comment highlighted that the frustration stemmed from the ferry making three voyages to Regla but only one to Casablanca, heightening the anxiety of those waiting to cross, including mothers who were delayed in picking up their children from school.

Fernández further detailed his challenges after leaving the dock and heading to the cyclebus. "This is our reality. So I went to the cyclebus, and here we are waiting because there are only two, and they are clearly insufficient. It's packed with bicycles, motorcycles, and people," he wrote.

The cyclebus, transporting people through the Havana Bay tunnel, also lacked the capacity to meet the demand.

Habaneros are no strangers to being stranded without options for crossing the bay. In June, some attempted to walk through the tunnel after enduring over seven hours without a bus in sight.

One woman, who crossed the bay with her son the previous Tuesday, recounted the overcrowded conditions and the fear she felt during the journey. "I was terrified by the number of people inside. My mind was racing with thoughts, one being: if this sinks, how do I get out?" she recounted.

Fernández criticized the absence of alternative transportation solutions and called for permission for private businesses to expand transit services across Havana Bay. "There's no need to eliminate state transportation; just allow others to transport passengers since the state doesn't allocate resources for this purpose, although they have them for other issues," he wrote.

Nonetheless, some commenters doubted that private transporters would solve the problem. One noted that transportation small businesses are already authorized but face fuel shortages and would charge rates similar to other private operators.

Another recounted how transport inspectors "chased away" a private bus that had stopped to pick up passengers at the tunnel entrance, while a state vehicle waited for the stop to fill up.

"This situation is untenable," summarized a citizen in the comments. "All they do is pit the people against each other, who are desperate, without transportation, water, gas, or food."

The incident underscores the chronic shortcomings of a service long operating on the brink. Out of an official fleet of six ferries, only one has been operational daily since at least February 2024. These ferries are nearly 40 years old.

In March, a ferry became stranded in the bay and required towing, while in October, service was again suspended due to "incorrect documentation," according to officials.

In October, Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila acknowledged that the sector was "at one of its lowest points ever." He presented figures showing that interprovincial trips from Havana plummeted from 419 daily in 2025 to just 11.