🔗 Share this article Two Cuba-Destined Relief Sailboats Declared Unaccounted For after Departing the Coast of Mexico. Both vessels Friendship and Tigger Moth set off from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A large-scale rescue and recovery effort is currently in progress in the Caribbean region for two missing sailing vessels transporting relief goods journeying from Mexico to the island of Cuba. Maritime Search and Rescue Operations Deployed The Mexican government has dispatched naval teams and search planes to locate the two vessels, which were transporting no fewer than nine total crew members, as stated by a official statement. The vessels had been scheduled to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said. Background of Humanitarian Support to the Island The island nation has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island grapples with multiple national electricity failures. "The captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and both vessels are fitted with appropriate safety systems and communication devices," an official associated with the mission said. The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has established contact with coast guard agencies from those nations along with their diplomatic representatives. "Our team is collaborating completely with the authorities and are still optimistic in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the statement continued. Recent Relief Delivery Previously that week, the government in Havana publicly celebrated and officially received a separate vessel that had delivered 14 tons of relief supplies to the nation. That ship, called "Granma 2.0" in reference to the boat in which Fidel Castro landed in Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, delivered solar panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles and foodstuffs. Wider Geopolitical Climate Volunteers and NGOs have primarily led efforts to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba since January, when a oil sanctions on the country came into effect. International organizations have since raised alarms about ""critical" lack of essential goods, with more than 50k surgeries cancelled in Cuba because of energy rationing. Foreign policy measures have increased over the past months, with statements from various representatives underscoring the delicate situation regarding diplomatic ties. Responding to recent statements, a senior Cuban official declared that "the political system of Cuba is not subject to discussion." Reports suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their present status remains not publicly known. The naval forces affirmed it was committed to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to locate the sailboats and guarantee the well-being of the crews. At this time, there has been no public statement on the disappeared vessels by the government in Havana.
Both vessels Friendship and Tigger Moth set off from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A large-scale rescue and recovery effort is currently in progress in the Caribbean region for two missing sailing vessels transporting relief goods journeying from Mexico to the island of Cuba. Maritime Search and Rescue Operations Deployed The Mexican government has dispatched naval teams and search planes to locate the two vessels, which were transporting no fewer than nine total crew members, as stated by a official statement. The vessels had been scheduled to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said. Background of Humanitarian Support to the Island The island nation has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island grapples with multiple national electricity failures. "The captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and both vessels are fitted with appropriate safety systems and communication devices," an official associated with the mission said. The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has established contact with coast guard agencies from those nations along with their diplomatic representatives. "Our team is collaborating completely with the authorities and are still optimistic in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the statement continued. Recent Relief Delivery Previously that week, the government in Havana publicly celebrated and officially received a separate vessel that had delivered 14 tons of relief supplies to the nation. That ship, called "Granma 2.0" in reference to the boat in which Fidel Castro landed in Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, delivered solar panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles and foodstuffs. Wider Geopolitical Climate Volunteers and NGOs have primarily led efforts to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba since January, when a oil sanctions on the country came into effect. International organizations have since raised alarms about ""critical" lack of essential goods, with more than 50k surgeries cancelled in Cuba because of energy rationing. Foreign policy measures have increased over the past months, with statements from various representatives underscoring the delicate situation regarding diplomatic ties. Responding to recent statements, a senior Cuban official declared that "the political system of Cuba is not subject to discussion." Reports suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their present status remains not publicly known. The naval forces affirmed it was committed to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to locate the sailboats and guarantee the well-being of the crews. At this time, there has been no public statement on the disappeared vessels by the government in Havana.