š Share this article A Pair of Cuba-bound Relief Vessels Listed Unaccounted For following Leaving Mexico. The Friendship and Tigger Moth left Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A large-scale search and recovery operation is presently under way in the Caribbean waters for a pair of lost sailboats loaded with humanitarian supplies en route from Mexico to Havana. Naval Rescue Missions Initiated The Mexican government has sent naval assets and military search aircraft to locate the two vessels, which were had on board at least nine sailors, according to a military release. The ships had been expected to reach Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been radio silence from them and zero verification of their docking, authorities reported. Background of Humanitarian Support to the Nation The island nation has relied heavily on aid convoys from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the nation grapples with multiple power outages across the country. "The skippers and their teams are experienced sailors, and the two ships are fitted with proper safety systems and signalling equipment," a spokesperson involved in the effort stated. The nine individuals on board are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from each country along with their embassy officials. "Our team is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to make it to Cuba without incident," the statement continued. Recent Humanitarian Delivery Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and warmly received a separate vessel that had transported a significant amount of donated goods to the island. That vessel, dubbed "Granma 2.0" after the vessel in which Castro landed in Cuba to launch the armed struggle in the 1950s, carried solar panels, medicines, formula milk, bikes and foodstuffs. Wider International Climate Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to ship critical assistance to Cuba since January, a period which saw a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation was initiated. International organizations have since highlighted "dire" shortages of supplies, with in excess of fifty thousand surgeries cancelled in Cuba amid energy rationing. Foreign policy measures have intensified lately, with remarks from various officials underscoring the complex state of relations. In response to recent statements, a high-ranking official from Cuba insisted that "the governance model of Cuba is not up for negotiation." Reports suggest that preliminary steps of discussions were initiated, although their present status remains uncertain. The Mexican navy affirmed it was pledged to using the full extent of its capabilities at its reach to find the vessels and ensure the safety of the sailors. As of now, there has been no public statement on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban government.
The Friendship and Tigger Moth left Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A large-scale search and recovery operation is presently under way in the Caribbean waters for a pair of lost sailboats loaded with humanitarian supplies en route from Mexico to Havana. Naval Rescue Missions Initiated The Mexican government has sent naval assets and military search aircraft to locate the two vessels, which were had on board at least nine sailors, according to a military release. The ships had been expected to reach Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been radio silence from them and zero verification of their docking, authorities reported. Background of Humanitarian Support to the Nation The island nation has relied heavily on aid convoys from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the nation grapples with multiple power outages across the country. "The skippers and their teams are experienced sailors, and the two ships are fitted with proper safety systems and signalling equipment," a spokesperson involved in the effort stated. The nine individuals on board are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from each country along with their embassy officials. "Our team is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to make it to Cuba without incident," the statement continued. Recent Humanitarian Delivery Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and warmly received a separate vessel that had transported a significant amount of donated goods to the island. That vessel, dubbed "Granma 2.0" after the vessel in which Castro landed in Cuba to launch the armed struggle in the 1950s, carried solar panels, medicines, formula milk, bikes and foodstuffs. Wider International Climate Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to ship critical assistance to Cuba since January, a period which saw a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation was initiated. International organizations have since highlighted "dire" shortages of supplies, with in excess of fifty thousand surgeries cancelled in Cuba amid energy rationing. Foreign policy measures have intensified lately, with remarks from various officials underscoring the complex state of relations. In response to recent statements, a high-ranking official from Cuba insisted that "the governance model of Cuba is not up for negotiation." Reports suggest that preliminary steps of discussions were initiated, although their present status remains uncertain. The Mexican navy affirmed it was pledged to using the full extent of its capabilities at its reach to find the vessels and ensure the safety of the sailors. As of now, there has been no public statement on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban government.