🔗 Share this article Two Cuba-bound Humanitarian Vessels Reported Lost following Leaving the Coast of Mexico. Both vessels Friendship and Tigger Moth set off from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A extensive search and recovery operation is presently ongoing in the Caribbean waters for two lost boats carrying aid cargo en route from the Mexican coast to Cuba. Military Search and Rescue Missions Launched Mexico has dispatched naval teams and search planes to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying a minimum of nine total sailors, as stated by a military release. The ships had been expected to make landfall in Cuba's capital on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no official word of their docking, authorities reported. Background of Humanitarian Support to Cuba Cuba has depended significantly on aid convoys from Mexico over recent weeks, as the country endures multiple national electricity failures. "Both captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and the two ships are fitted with suitable safety systems and signalling equipment," a spokesperson involved in the effort commented. The nine-person crew are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Officials said it has opened communications with coast guard agencies from each country along with their embassy officials. "The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the spokesperson added. Earlier Aid Shipment Earlier in the week, the government in Havana widely celebrated and warmly received a different ship that had delivered a significant amount of humanitarian aid to the nation. That ship, dubbed "Granma 2.0" after the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to begin the revolution in the 1950s, delivered photovoltaic panels, drugs, baby formula, bikes and provisions. Wider Political Backdrop Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of efforts to deliver essential supplies to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, a period which saw a oil sanctions on the country began. The United Nations have since warned of "dire" supply shortages, with over 50,000 operations cancelled in Cuba amid energy rationing. Foreign policy tensions have intensified lately, with statements from different leaders underscoring the delicate situation regarding diplomatic ties. Responding to previous proposals, a prominent Cuban official insisted that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable." Indications suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their ongoing development remains not publicly known. The maritime authorities said it was committed to using all of the resources at its command to locate the boats and ensure the safety of the crews. As of now, there has been no public statement on the missing boats by the Cuban government.
Both vessels Friendship and Tigger Moth set off from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A extensive search and recovery operation is presently ongoing in the Caribbean waters for two lost boats carrying aid cargo en route from the Mexican coast to Cuba. Military Search and Rescue Missions Launched Mexico has dispatched naval teams and search planes to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying a minimum of nine total sailors, as stated by a military release. The ships had been expected to make landfall in Cuba's capital on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no official word of their docking, authorities reported. Background of Humanitarian Support to Cuba Cuba has depended significantly on aid convoys from Mexico over recent weeks, as the country endures multiple national electricity failures. "Both captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and the two ships are fitted with suitable safety systems and signalling equipment," a spokesperson involved in the effort commented. The nine-person crew are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Officials said it has opened communications with coast guard agencies from each country along with their embassy officials. "The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the spokesperson added. Earlier Aid Shipment Earlier in the week, the government in Havana widely celebrated and warmly received a different ship that had delivered a significant amount of humanitarian aid to the nation. That ship, dubbed "Granma 2.0" after the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to begin the revolution in the 1950s, delivered photovoltaic panels, drugs, baby formula, bikes and provisions. Wider Political Backdrop Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of efforts to deliver essential supplies to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, a period which saw a oil sanctions on the country began. The United Nations have since warned of "dire" supply shortages, with over 50,000 operations cancelled in Cuba amid energy rationing. Foreign policy tensions have intensified lately, with statements from different leaders underscoring the delicate situation regarding diplomatic ties. Responding to previous proposals, a prominent Cuban official insisted that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable." Indications suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their ongoing development remains not publicly known. The maritime authorities said it was committed to using all of the resources at its command to locate the boats and ensure the safety of the crews. As of now, there has been no public statement on the missing boats by the Cuban government.