🔗 Share this article Two Separate Cuba-Destined Humanitarian Vessels Declared Missing after Setting Sail from Mexican Waters. Both ships named Friendship and Tigger Moth set off from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on the 20th of March. A large-scale rescue and recovery operation is actively in progress in the Caribbean waters for two missing sailboats transporting aid cargo traveling from Mexico to the island of Cuba. Maritime Search and Rescue Efforts Launched The Mexican government has dispatched navy personnel and search planes to search for the two vessels, which were carrying a minimum of 9 personnel, per a official statement. The vessels had been scheduled to make landfall in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no confirmation of their safe arrival, the navy said. Background of Relief to the Island Cuba has depended significantly on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over recent weeks, as the country endures multiple power outages across the country. "The crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and both vessels are fitted with suitable navigational gear and communication devices," a spokesperson associated with the mission said. The nine crew members are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with rescue coordination centers from each country along with their embassy officials. "Our team is working closely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the official further stated. Recent Relief Mission Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had transported a significant amount of humanitarian aid to the country. That boat, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the vessel in which the revolutionary leader landed in Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the mid-20th century, brought photovoltaic panels, drugs, baby formula, bicycles and foodstuffs. Larger International Climate Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of initiatives to deliver essential supplies to Cuba beginning in January, a period which saw a energy blockade on the country came into effect. The United Nations have since highlighted ""critical" supply shortages, with over fifty thousand surgical procedures postponed in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints. Foreign policy pressure have intensified lately, with statements from several leaders highlighting the complicated nature of relations. Reacting to recent statements, a prominent official from Cuba declared that "the governance model of Cuba is non-negotiable." Accounts suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their ongoing development remains not publicly known. The naval forces affirmed it was dedicated to using all of the resources at its command to find the sailboats and ensure the well-being of the people on board. To date, there has been silence on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban government.
Both ships named Friendship and Tigger Moth set off from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on the 20th of March. A large-scale rescue and recovery operation is actively in progress in the Caribbean waters for two missing sailboats transporting aid cargo traveling from Mexico to the island of Cuba. Maritime Search and Rescue Efforts Launched The Mexican government has dispatched navy personnel and search planes to search for the two vessels, which were carrying a minimum of 9 personnel, per a official statement. The vessels had been scheduled to make landfall in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no confirmation of their safe arrival, the navy said. Background of Relief to the Island Cuba has depended significantly on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over recent weeks, as the country endures multiple power outages across the country. "The crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and both vessels are fitted with suitable navigational gear and communication devices," a spokesperson associated with the mission said. The nine crew members are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with rescue coordination centers from each country along with their embassy officials. "Our team is working closely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the official further stated. Recent Relief Mission Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had transported a significant amount of humanitarian aid to the country. That boat, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the vessel in which the revolutionary leader landed in Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the mid-20th century, brought photovoltaic panels, drugs, baby formula, bicycles and foodstuffs. Larger International Climate Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of initiatives to deliver essential supplies to Cuba beginning in January, a period which saw a energy blockade on the country came into effect. The United Nations have since highlighted ""critical" supply shortages, with over fifty thousand surgical procedures postponed in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints. Foreign policy pressure have intensified lately, with statements from several leaders highlighting the complicated nature of relations. Reacting to recent statements, a prominent official from Cuba declared that "the governance model of Cuba is non-negotiable." Accounts suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their ongoing development remains not publicly known. The naval forces affirmed it was dedicated to using all of the resources at its command to find the sailboats and ensure the well-being of the people on board. To date, there has been silence on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban government.