Two Cuba-Headed Humanitarian Sailboats Reported Lost after Setting Sail from Mexican Waters.

A large-scale rescue and recovery operation is presently under way in the Caribbean Sea for two lost sailboats carrying humanitarian supplies traveling from the Mexican coast to Cuba.

Naval Rescue Operations Launched

Mexico has sent naval assets and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board a minimum of nine crew members, according to a military release.

The vessels had been expected to arrive in Cuba's capital on the early part of the week, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no official word of their safe arrival, authorities reported.

The Situation of Humanitarian Support to the Island

Cuba has relied heavily on aid convoys from Mexico over the past few weeks, as the nation grapples with multiple national electricity failures.

"Both skippers and their teams are seasoned mariners, and each boat are fitted with appropriate navigational gear and signalling equipment," an official for the convoy commented.

The nine crew members are from France, Poland, the United States, and Cuba. Mexican authorities said it has been in touch with rescue coordination centers from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.

"The group is working closely with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely," the spokesperson added.

Earlier Relief Mission

Earlier in the week, the government in Havana publicly celebrated and warmly received another boat that had delivered 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the nation.

That vessel, dubbed "a new Granma" after the vessel in which Fidel Castro returned to Cuba to start the revolution in the mid-20th century, brought solar panels, medicines, baby formula, cycles and food.

Larger Political Climate

Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a energy blockade on the island nation began.

Global bodies have since warned of ""critical" supply shortages, with more than 50k operations cancelled in Cuba amid power shortages.

Political pressure have increased in recent months, with statements from several representatives highlighting the delicate state of bilateral relations.

Reacting to recent comments, a prominent government figure insisted that "the governance model of Cuba is not up for negotiation."

Indications suggest that early stages of negotiations commenced, although their present status remains not publicly known.

The Mexican navy said it was dedicated to using all of the resources at its disposal to find the sailboats and secure the well-being of the sailors.

To date, there has been no public statement on the missing boats by the Cuban government.