A Pair of Cuba-Headed Humanitarian Vessels Reported Missing after Leaving Mexico.

A large-scale rescue and recovery mission is actively under way in the Caribbean Sea for two missing sailing vessels loaded with relief goods traveling from the Mexican coast to Havana.

Maritime Search Missions Deployed

Mexico has deployed naval assets and search planes to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board no fewer than nine total personnel, per a official statement.

The ships had been scheduled to arrive in the Cuban capital on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the statement clarified.

The Situation of Aid to Cuba

Cuba has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island grapples with repeated power outages across the country.

"Both captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with proper safety equipment and signalling equipment," a spokesperson involved in the effort commented.

The nine crew members are citizens of France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Mexico said it has opened communications with coast guard agencies from the involved countries along with their embassy officials.

"We are co-operating fully with the authorities and continue to be hopeful in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the spokesperson added.

Previous Aid Mission

Earlier in the week, the government in Havana widely celebrated and greeted with fanfare another boat that had delivered a significant amount of relief supplies to the nation.

That ship, called "Granma 2.0" after the vessel in which Castro returned to Cuba to start the armed struggle in the 1950s, carried solar equipment, medicines, infant formula, bikes and foodstuffs.

Broader Political Backdrop

Volunteers and NGOs have primarily led initiatives to bring essential supplies to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, a period which saw a oil sanctions on the country was initiated.

Global bodies have since warned of "dire" supply shortages, with in excess of 50,000 surgeries cancelled in Cuba because of power shortages.

Foreign policy tensions have intensified over the past months, with statements from different leaders highlighting the complicated nature of diplomatic ties.

In response to recent comments, a senior Cuban official declared that "the governance model of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Accounts suggest that early stages of negotiations had begun, although their current progress remains uncertain.

The maritime authorities stated it was pledged to using every available asset at its reach to locate the vessels and ensure the security of the crews.

At this time, there has been no public statement on the lost ships by the government in Havana.