A extensive search and rescue mission is actively ongoing in the Caribbean waters for a pair of unlocated boats carrying aid cargo traveling from Mexico to the island of Cuba.
Authorities in Mexico has deployed navy personnel and reconnaissance aircraft to locate the two vessels, which were transporting no fewer than nine crew members, as stated by a military release.
The ships had been scheduled to make landfall in Cuba's capital on the early part of the week, but there has been radio silence from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, the navy said.
The Caribbean nation has leaned on aid convoys from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island struggles through multiple nationwide blackouts.
"The crews and captains are seasoned mariners, and both vessels are outfitted with appropriate safety systems and emergency beacons," a representative involved in the effort said.
The nine-person crew are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Officials said it has established contact with coast guard agencies from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.
"Our team is collaborating completely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to reach Havana safely," the spokesperson added.
Previously that week, the Cuban government warmly welcomed and warmly received a separate vessel that had delivered a significant amount of relief supplies to the country.
That ship, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the yacht in which Fidel Castro returned to Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the mid-20th century, delivered solar equipment, medicines, formula milk, bikes and foodstuffs.
Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of initiatives to bring essential supplies to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the Communist-run nation began.
Global bodies have since warned of "dire" shortages of supplies, with in excess of 50,000 surgeries postponed in Cuba due to power shortages.
Foreign policy tensions have been ramped up over the past months, with statements from several leaders underscoring the complicated situation regarding bilateral relations.
Responding to recent proposals, a high-ranking government figure declared that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion."
Accounts suggest that preliminary steps of discussions had begun, although their current progress remains unclear.
The naval forces said it was committed to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to find the sailboats and secure the well-being of the people on board.
At this time, there has been no public statement on the disappeared vessels by the government in Havana.
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