Mexico's navy said it had activated a search-and-rescue operation in the Caribbean to locate two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba after the vessels failed to arrive in Havana.
The catamarans, named Friendship and Tigger Moth, set sail from Isla Mujeres in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on 20 March, carrying nine crew members of Polish, French, Cuban, and American nationality.
They were expected to arrive in Havana between 24 and 25 March, but no contact has been made, and there has been no confirmation that they reached their destination.
Mexico’s navy said on Thursday that it had deployed naval teams and military aircraft to locate the missing boats. It has also coordinated with maritime rescue centres in Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States, as well as diplomatic representatives from the countries of the crew members.
“The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment,” a spokesperson for the aid convoy, Nuestra America, said. “We are co-operating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews’ ability to reach Havana safely.”
The missing boats are part of a wider grassroots effort to deliver aid to Cuba, which has been facing prolonged power outages and a deepening economic crisis following tightened U.S. sanctions on oil and other goods.
Volunteers in Mexico last week loaded the convoy with rice, beans, baby formula, medicine, and other essential supplies.
Earlier in the week, another vessel from the convoy, dubbed Granma 2.0, successfully reached Havana carrying 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including solar panels, food, bicycles, and medicines. The arrival was widely celebrated in Cuba.
Cuba has increasingly relied on humanitarian shipments from Mexico since the U.S. fuel embargo began in January, which has contributed to nationwide blackouts and critical shortages.
The United Nations has warned of “dire” supply shortages, with more than 50,000 surgeries cancelled due to electricity constraints.
There has been no comment so far from the Cuban government regarding the missing boats. Meanwhile, U.S.-Cuba tensions continue, with recent statements from U.S. officials and Cuban leaders highlighting the ongoing strain in relations.
The Mexican navy has pledged to use all available resources to locate the vessels and ensure the safety of the crew.
Kazakhstan and Germany have agreed to expand cooperation in critical minerals, industry, energy and transport, with Astana seeking a greater German...
Global cholera deaths reached their highest annual level in more than 20 years in 2025, despite a decline in reported cases, according to the World...
Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has proposed building a new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power unit in Armenia as Yerevan weighs competing inte...
A Russian guided aerial bomb has struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring 22 people, including children, according to the city’s mayor. The strike follows a day of near-continuous Russian attacks across Ukraine that killed at least five people.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Brexit has done more harm than good, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and NATO as he used his first Labour conference speech as leader to set out a new direction for Britain.
The arrival in South Korea of two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia has created a rare legal, diplomatic and humanitarian case, raising questions over their status, security and future.
At midnight on 30 September, the last U.S. troops are due to leave Iraq, ending a military presence that began with the 2003 invasion and cost the lives of around 4,500 American service members.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 29 September 2026, with the latest from Azerbaijan, from $10.8 billion in investment deals and Formula 1 drama to diplomacy and preparations for major FIFA tournaments.
Crude oil exports from major Middle Eastern producers rebounded in September to their highest level since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment