Havana, February 21, (RHC), – A Florida man who is hoping to capitalize on the warming relationship between the United States and Cuba wants to relaunch a ferry service from Marathon City Marina in Florida to Havana, Cuba, writes Jessica Plautz for Mashable.

According to the report, Brian Hall, the owner of a catamaran company Konacat, applied for a travel license with the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control, and plans to start trips as early as this year.

"We're going to operate as a nonprofit organization. I feel pretty certain we'll get the OFAC license," the report quoted Hall as saying. "The trips are going to be for religious groups, educational trips and for Cuban-Americans to see their families again."

The ferry service from Florida to Cuba was popular prior to the U.S. ban on travel to the island nation in 1962.

Hall plans to serve religious, educational, and relatives of Cubans, so he could start the trips even without OFAC approval, since the government lifted the requirement for licenses.

Tourism is still banned for U.S. travelers, but Americans are now allowed to go if the reason for their visit matches one of 12 approved categories.