🔗 Share this article Two Cuba-Headed Aid Ships Listed Missing subsequent to Leaving Mexico. Both Friendship and Tigger Moth left Mexico on 20 March. A extensive rescue and recovery operation is currently under way in the Caribbean waters for a pair of unlocated boats carrying humanitarian supplies journeying from Mexico to Cuba. Military Rescue Operations Deployed The Mexican government has dispatched naval assets and search planes to find the two vessels, which were transporting a minimum of nine sailors, per a official statement. The boats had been projected to make landfall in Cuba's capital on the early part of the week, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and zero verification of their arrival, the navy said. The Situation of Aid to Cuba Cuba has leaned on aid convoys from Mexico over recent weeks, as the nation struggles through repeated power outages across the country. "Both skippers and their teams are experienced sailors, and each boat are outfitted with proper navigational gear and emergency beacons," a spokesperson involved in the effort said. The nine-person crew are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexico said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their consular staff. "The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to reach Havana safely," the spokesperson added. Previous Humanitarian Shipment Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and warmly received a different ship that had transported 14 tons of donated goods to the island. That boat, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" after the yacht in which Castro landed in Cuba to begin the revolution in the mid-20th century, brought solar equipment, pharmaceuticals, infant formula, bicycles and food. Wider Geopolitical Context Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of efforts to bring essential supplies to Cuba beginning in January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the Communist-run nation came into effect. International organizations have since raised alarms about ""severe" shortages of supplies, with in excess of fifty thousand surgical procedures called off in Cuba due to energy rationing. Political tensions have been ramped up in recent months, with remarks from various representatives emphasizing the complex state of diplomatic ties. In response to certain comments, a senior government figure stated firmly that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion." Accounts suggest that initial phases of negotiations had begun, although their current progress remains uncertain. The Mexican navy stated it was committed to using all of the resources at its disposal to find the boats and secure the security of the crews. To date, there has been silence on the missing boats by the government in Havana.
Both Friendship and Tigger Moth left Mexico on 20 March. A extensive rescue and recovery operation is currently under way in the Caribbean waters for a pair of unlocated boats carrying humanitarian supplies journeying from Mexico to Cuba. Military Rescue Operations Deployed The Mexican government has dispatched naval assets and search planes to find the two vessels, which were transporting a minimum of nine sailors, per a official statement. The boats had been projected to make landfall in Cuba's capital on the early part of the week, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and zero verification of their arrival, the navy said. The Situation of Aid to Cuba Cuba has leaned on aid convoys from Mexico over recent weeks, as the nation struggles through repeated power outages across the country. "Both skippers and their teams are experienced sailors, and each boat are outfitted with proper navigational gear and emergency beacons," a spokesperson involved in the effort said. The nine-person crew are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexico said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their consular staff. "The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to reach Havana safely," the spokesperson added. Previous Humanitarian Shipment Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and warmly received a different ship that had transported 14 tons of donated goods to the island. That boat, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" after the yacht in which Castro landed in Cuba to begin the revolution in the mid-20th century, brought solar equipment, pharmaceuticals, infant formula, bicycles and food. Wider Geopolitical Context Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of efforts to bring essential supplies to Cuba beginning in January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the Communist-run nation came into effect. International organizations have since raised alarms about ""severe" shortages of supplies, with in excess of fifty thousand surgical procedures called off in Cuba due to energy rationing. Political tensions have been ramped up in recent months, with remarks from various representatives emphasizing the complex state of diplomatic ties. In response to certain comments, a senior government figure stated firmly that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion." Accounts suggest that initial phases of negotiations had begun, although their current progress remains uncertain. The Mexican navy stated it was committed to using all of the resources at its disposal to find the boats and secure the security of the crews. To date, there has been silence on the missing boats by the government in Havana.