A Pair of Cuba-bound Aid Vessels Listed Unaccounted For after Leaving Mexican Waters.
A large-scale search and rescue effort is actively in progress in the Caribbean waters for a pair of missing boats carrying aid cargo journeying from Mexico to Havana.
Maritime Search Efforts Deployed
Mexico has dispatched naval teams and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board a minimum of nine total crew members, according to a navy statement.
The vessels had been projected to reach Havana on the early part of the week, but there has been radio silence from them and no official word of their arrival, the statement clarified.
The Situation of Aid to the Island
The Caribbean nation has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the island struggles through widespread nationwide blackouts.
"Both captains and crews are veteran seafarers, and the two ships are equipped with proper safety systems and communication devices," an official for the convoy stated.
The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.
"The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to safely arrive in Havana," the statement continued.
Recent Aid Delivery
Just days before, the government in Havana warmly welcomed and greeted with fanfare a separate vessel that had transported 14 tons of relief supplies to the nation.
That ship, dubbed "a modern Granma" after the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to launch the armed struggle in the mid-20th century, carried photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, baby formula, bikes and provisions.
Larger Political Climate
Charity groups and individuals have largely spearheaded initiatives to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a fuel embargo on the island nation was initiated.
International organizations have since highlighted ""severe" shortages of supplies, with over 50,000 operations cancelled in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints.
Political tensions have intensified lately, with statements from various officials underscoring the complicated nature of bilateral relations.
In response to previous proposals, a high-ranking official from Cuba declared that "the political system of Cuba is not subject to discussion."
Accounts suggest that early stages of negotiations had begun, although their ongoing development remains not publicly known.
The naval forces affirmed it was pledged to using every available asset at its reach to find the sailboats and secure the safety of the crews.
At this time, there has been silence on the missing boats by the government in Havana.