Two Humanitarian Aid Ships En Route To Cuba Go Missing In Caribbean, Mexico Launches Search Operation

Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico to Cuba have gone missing in the Caribbean after failing to arrive in Havana as scheduled.

The boats, named Friendship and Tigger Moth, were carrying at least nine crew members and had not made any contact since departure, prompting Mexico to launch a search and rescue operation.

The two vessels left Isla Mujeres in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state on March 20 as part of the “Nuestra América Convoy,” a non-government effort to deliver aid to Cuba.

They were expected to reach Havana between March 24 and 25, but there has been no confirmation of their arrival. Mexican authorities said there had been no communication from the boats after they set sail.

Mexico’s navy has deployed ships and Persuader-type maritime patrol aircraft to search along the expected route between Isla Mujeres and Havana.

Officials said the operation also involves coordination with maritime rescue centers in Poland, France, Cuba and the United States, as well as diplomatic representatives of the countries linked to the crew.

Other vessels in the area, including fishing and recreational boats, have been asked to report any sightings.

There are nine people on board the two sailboats, and they are from Poland, France, Cuba and the United States. According to convoy organizers, both vessels were operated by experienced sailors and were equipped with proper safety and signalling systems.

The group said it is working closely with authorities and remains hopeful that the crews will reach Havana safely.

The missing boats were part of a larger convoy carrying around 30 tonnes of humanitarian supplies. These included food items like rice and beans, medicines, baby formula, hygiene products and some energy-related supplies such as solar panels.

Another vessel from the same convoy had already reached Havana earlier in the week.

Cuba is currently dealing with a serious economic crisis, with frequent power cuts and shortages of fuel, food and medicines.

The situation has worsened after tighter restrictions on oil supplies earlier this year, which affected electricity generation across the island.

Reports have also pointed to cancelled surgeries and repeated nationwide blackouts affecting millions of people.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said that authorities in Cuba are also doing everything possible to help in the search.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said a navy vessel had briefly made contact with the convoy before losing communication, after which the search process began.

The United States Coast Guard said it has been informed but has not yet been asked to assist.

In recent months, several volunteer groups and NGOs have been using small vessels to send aid to Cuba as regular supply chains remain under pressure.

These boats usually travel a short but busy route in the Caribbean. These trips are common, but small boats can face risks like bad weather, loss of communication, or technical issues.

The search is still ongoing, and authorities have not confirmed what caused the loss of contact with the two boats.

References: BBC, Reuters