🔗 Share this article Two Cuba-Destined Relief Vessels Listed Missing subsequent to Setting Sail from the Coast of Mexico. Both vessels Friendship and Tigger Moth left Mexico on the 20th of March. A large-scale search and recovery mission is presently under way in the Caribbean waters for two missing sailing vessels loaded with aid cargo journeying from Mexico to Havana. Naval Search and Rescue Missions Launched Authorities in Mexico has deployed navy personnel and military search aircraft to search for the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying at least nine total personnel, according to a navy statement. The ships had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no official word of their arrival, the navy said. The Situation of Humanitarian Support to Cuba Cuba has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the nation grapples with multiple power outages across the country. "Both crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and the two ships are outfitted with proper safety equipment and signalling equipment," a spokesperson for the convoy said. The nine crew members are nationals of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Officials said it has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives. "We are collaborating completely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to make it to Cuba without incident," the statement continued. Earlier Aid Mission Previously that week, the Cuban government publicly celebrated and officially received another boat that had delivered 14 tons of relief supplies to the island. That vessel, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to begin the armed struggle in the mid-20th century, carried photovoltaic panels, drugs, formula milk, bicycles and foodstuffs. Broader Political Climate Charity groups and individuals have largely spearheaded initiatives to bring essential supplies to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a oil sanctions on the country began. The United Nations have since raised alarms about "dire" supply shortages, with in excess of fifty thousand surgeries called off in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints. Political measures have been ramped up over the past months, with remarks from various representatives highlighting the complex situation regarding diplomatic ties. In response to certain comments, a senior official from Cuba insisted that "the socialist system of Cuba is non-negotiable." Reports suggest that preliminary steps of talks commenced, although their current progress remains not publicly known. The maritime authorities stated it was pledged to using the full extent of its capabilities at its reach to find the sailboats and secure the security of the sailors. To date, there has been no official comment on the missing boats by the Cuban government.
Both vessels Friendship and Tigger Moth left Mexico on the 20th of March. A large-scale search and recovery mission is presently under way in the Caribbean waters for two missing sailing vessels loaded with aid cargo journeying from Mexico to Havana. Naval Search and Rescue Missions Launched Authorities in Mexico has deployed navy personnel and military search aircraft to search for the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying at least nine total personnel, according to a navy statement. The ships had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no official word of their arrival, the navy said. The Situation of Humanitarian Support to Cuba Cuba has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the nation grapples with multiple power outages across the country. "Both crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and the two ships are outfitted with proper safety equipment and signalling equipment," a spokesperson for the convoy said. The nine crew members are nationals of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Officials said it has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives. "We are collaborating completely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to make it to Cuba without incident," the statement continued. Earlier Aid Mission Previously that week, the Cuban government publicly celebrated and officially received another boat that had delivered 14 tons of relief supplies to the island. That vessel, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to begin the armed struggle in the mid-20th century, carried photovoltaic panels, drugs, formula milk, bicycles and foodstuffs. Broader Political Climate Charity groups and individuals have largely spearheaded initiatives to bring essential supplies to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a oil sanctions on the country began. The United Nations have since raised alarms about "dire" supply shortages, with in excess of fifty thousand surgeries called off in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints. Political measures have been ramped up over the past months, with remarks from various representatives highlighting the complex situation regarding diplomatic ties. In response to certain comments, a senior official from Cuba insisted that "the socialist system of Cuba is non-negotiable." Reports suggest that preliminary steps of talks commenced, although their current progress remains not publicly known. The maritime authorities stated it was pledged to using the full extent of its capabilities at its reach to find the sailboats and secure the security of the sailors. To date, there has been no official comment on the missing boats by the Cuban government.