Two Cuba-bound Relief Vessels Reported Lost subsequent to Leaving Mexico.
A extensive rescue and recovery mission is currently ongoing in the Caribbean Sea for a pair of missing boats transporting relief goods journeying from the Mexican coast to the island of Cuba.
Maritime Search and Rescue Missions Deployed
The Mexican government has deployed naval teams and reconnaissance aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board a minimum of nine total crew members, per a official statement.
The ships had been projected to arrive in the Cuban capital on the early part of the week, but there has been radio silence from them and no official word of their docking, authorities reported.
Background of Aid to Cuba
The Caribbean nation has relied heavily on Mexico's over the last several weeks, as the island grapples with multiple national electricity failures.
"The captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and each boat are fitted with suitable navigational gear and communication devices," an official for the convoy said.
The nine individuals on board are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Officials said it has established contact with coast guard agencies from the involved countries along with their consular staff.
"Our team is collaborating completely with the authorities and remain confident in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the official further stated.
Recent Humanitarian Shipment
Earlier in the week, the Cuban government publicly celebrated and officially received a separate vessel that had carried 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the country.
That vessel, dubbed "a modern Granma" after the yacht in which Fidel Castro came back to Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, brought solar equipment, drugs, formula milk, bikes and food.
Broader Political Backdrop
Charity groups and individuals have primarily led initiatives to bring critical assistance to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a fuel embargo on the island nation was initiated.
International organizations have since highlighted ""critical" supply shortages, with in excess of 50k surgical procedures called off in Cuba amid energy rationing.
Diplomatic pressure have been ramped up over the past months, with comments from various leaders underscoring the complicated situation regarding diplomatic ties.
Responding to certain comments, a senior official from Cuba declared that "the governance model of Cuba is not up for negotiation."
Reports suggest that early stages of talks were initiated, although their current progress remains not publicly known.
The Mexican navy affirmed it was dedicated to using all of the resources at its reach to locate the sailboats and ensure the safety of the crews.
To date, there has been no official comment on the lost ships by the Cuban leadership.