🔗 Share this article Two Cuba-bound Humanitarian Vessels Declared Unaccounted For following Leaving Mexican Waters. Both ships named Friendship and Tigger Moth departed Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A comprehensive rescue and recovery effort is currently under way in the Caribbean region for two missing boats transporting aid cargo traveling from the Mexican coast to Cuba. Naval Search Missions Deployed Mexico has sent naval assets and reconnaissance aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board no fewer than nine total sailors, as stated by a official statement. The boats had been expected to make landfall in Havana on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their arrival, authorities reported. The Situation of Aid to the Island Cuba has relied heavily on Mexico's over the last several weeks, as the island struggles through repeated national electricity failures. "Both crews and captains are experienced sailors, and each boat are fitted with suitable safety systems and signalling equipment," an official for the convoy commented. The nine individuals on board are citizens of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Mexican authorities said it has established contact with coast guard agencies from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives. "Our team is co-operating fully with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the statement continued. Earlier Aid Delivery Just days before, the government in Havana warmly welcomed and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had delivered 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the country. That ship, called "a modern Granma" after the yacht in which Castro landed in Cuba to start the armed struggle in the 1950s, carried photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, formula milk, bicycles and foodstuffs. Wider International Climate Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba beginning in January, a period which saw a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation was initiated. The United Nations have since highlighted "dire" supply shortages, with over 50,000 surgical procedures called off in Cuba because of power shortages. Foreign policy tensions have been ramped up in recent months, with statements from different representatives underscoring the complex situation regarding bilateral relations. Reacting to previous statements, a prominent Cuban official declared that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion." Reports suggest that preliminary steps of talks commenced, although their current progress remains not publicly known. The Mexican navy stated it was pledged to using all of the resources at its reach to find the sailboats and guarantee the well-being of the sailors. At this time, there has been no official comment on the lost ships by the Cuban leadership.
Both ships named Friendship and Tigger Moth departed Isla Mujeres, Mexico on 20 March. A comprehensive rescue and recovery effort is currently under way in the Caribbean region for two missing boats transporting aid cargo traveling from the Mexican coast to Cuba. Naval Search Missions Deployed Mexico has sent naval assets and reconnaissance aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board no fewer than nine total sailors, as stated by a official statement. The boats had been expected to make landfall in Havana on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their arrival, authorities reported. The Situation of Aid to the Island Cuba has relied heavily on Mexico's over the last several weeks, as the island struggles through repeated national electricity failures. "Both crews and captains are experienced sailors, and each boat are fitted with suitable safety systems and signalling equipment," an official for the convoy commented. The nine individuals on board are citizens of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Mexican authorities said it has established contact with coast guard agencies from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives. "Our team is co-operating fully with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the statement continued. Earlier Aid Delivery Just days before, the government in Havana warmly welcomed and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had delivered 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the country. That ship, called "a modern Granma" after the yacht in which Castro landed in Cuba to start the armed struggle in the 1950s, carried photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, formula milk, bicycles and foodstuffs. Wider International Climate Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba beginning in January, a period which saw a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation was initiated. The United Nations have since highlighted "dire" supply shortages, with over 50,000 surgical procedures called off in Cuba because of power shortages. Foreign policy tensions have been ramped up in recent months, with statements from different representatives underscoring the complex situation regarding bilateral relations. Reacting to previous statements, a prominent Cuban official declared that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion." Reports suggest that preliminary steps of talks commenced, although their current progress remains not publicly known. The Mexican navy stated it was pledged to using all of the resources at its reach to find the sailboats and guarantee the well-being of the sailors. At this time, there has been no official comment on the lost ships by the Cuban leadership.