A extensive search and recovery mission is presently under way in the Caribbean region for a pair of missing boats carrying humanitarian supplies en route from Mexico to Havana.
Mexico has sent naval assets and search planes to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were transporting a minimum of nine crew members, per a navy statement.
The boats had been expected to arrive in the Cuban capital on the early part of the week, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their safe arrival, the navy said.
The Caribbean nation has relied heavily on Mexico's over the last several weeks, as the nation struggles through repeated power outages across the country.
"Both crews and captains are seasoned mariners, and each boat are equipped with appropriate navigational gear and signalling equipment," a representative associated with the mission commented.
The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexico said it has opened communications with rescue coordination centers from those nations along with their diplomatic representatives.
"Our team is working closely with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the spokesperson added.
Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and warmly received a separate vessel that had carried 14 tonnes of donated goods to the nation.
That vessel, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" following the name of the yacht in which Castro came back to Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, brought photovoltaic panels, medicines, formula milk, bicycles and foodstuffs.
Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have largely spearheaded attempts to bring humanitarian aid to Cuba beginning in January, coinciding with the time a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation came into effect.
Global bodies have since warned of ""severe" supply shortages, with more than fifty thousand surgeries called off in Cuba amid electricity supply constraints.
Foreign policy pressure have increased over the past months, with remarks from different representatives underscoring the complicated nature of relations.
Reacting to previous comments, a senior government figure declared that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable."
Reports suggest that initial phases of negotiations commenced, although their current progress remains uncertain.
The maritime authorities said it was dedicated to using the full extent of its capabilities at its command to find the vessels and guarantee the well-being of the sailors.
At this time, there has been silence on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban leadership.
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