A Pair of Cuba-bound Relief Vessels Declared Lost subsequent to Departing Mexico.
A extensive rescue and recovery mission is actively under way in the Caribbean Sea for two unlocated boats transporting humanitarian supplies en route from Mexico to Cuba.
Maritime Rescue Missions Initiated
Mexico has sent navy personnel and reconnaissance aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board at least nine total personnel, according to a navy statement.
The ships had been projected to reach the Cuban capital on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no official word of their docking, the statement clarified.
Background of Aid to Cuba
The Caribbean nation has leaned on Mexico's over the past few weeks, as the country struggles through repeated nationwide blackouts.
"Both crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and the two ships are outfitted with suitable navigational gear and communication devices," a representative for the convoy stated.
The nine-person crew are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has opened communications with maritime rescue coordination centres from those nations along with their diplomatic representatives.
"The group is collaborating completely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to safely arrive in Havana," the official further stated.
Recent Humanitarian Shipment
Previously that week, the Cuban authorities publicly celebrated and greeted with fanfare a separate vessel that had transported 14 tons of relief supplies to the island.
That vessel, called "Granma 2.0" after the vessel in which the revolutionary leader landed in Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, carried photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, formula milk, cycles and food.
Larger International Backdrop
Charity groups and individuals have largely spearheaded efforts to bring critical assistance to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a energy blockade on the country began.
The United Nations have since warned of ""severe" lack of essential goods, with more than 50k surgeries cancelled in Cuba because of electricity supply constraints.
Political tensions have increased lately, with comments from various officials emphasizing the complicated state of diplomatic ties.
In response to certain comments, a high-ranking official from Cuba insisted that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable."
Reports suggest that preliminary steps of negotiations commenced, although their current progress remains unclear.
The maritime authorities stated it was committed to using all of the resources at its command to discover the vessels and secure the safety of the sailors.
To date, there has been no official comment on the missing boats by the government in Havana.