Two Cuba-Headed Aid Vessels Declared Missing following Departing Mexican Waters.

A comprehensive search and rescue mission is actively ongoing in the Caribbean Sea for a duo of missing sailing vessels carrying aid cargo traveling from Mexico to Cuba.

Military Search and Rescue Efforts Initiated

The Mexican government has dispatched naval teams and search planes to find the two vessels, which were had on board at least nine sailors, according to a military release.

The vessels had been projected to make landfall in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their arrival, authorities reported.

Context of Relief to the Island

The Caribbean nation has leaned on aid convoys from Mexico over recent weeks, as the island grapples with multiple nationwide blackouts.

"Both captains and crews are seasoned mariners, and both vessels are equipped with suitable navigational gear and communication devices," a spokesperson associated with the mission stated.

The nine crew members are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexico said it has been in touch with rescue coordination centers from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.

"The group is collaborating completely with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to make it to Cuba without incident," the statement continued.

Previous Relief Shipment

Previously that week, the government in Havana publicly celebrated and officially received another boat that had delivered a significant amount of donated goods to the country.

That ship, dubbed "a modern Granma" after the boat in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to start the armed struggle in the 1950s, delivered solar equipment, drugs, infant formula, bikes and food.

Larger Political Context

Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of attempts to deliver critical assistance to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a energy blockade on the country came into effect.

The United Nations have since highlighted "dire" shortages of supplies, with more than 50,000 operations cancelled in Cuba because of energy rationing.

Foreign policy tensions have increased lately, with comments from various leaders underscoring the delicate situation regarding relations.

Reacting to previous proposals, a senior government figure insisted that "the socialist system of Cuba is not up for negotiation."

Reports suggest that initial phases of negotiations had begun, although their present status remains not publicly known.

The Mexican navy said it was committed to using the full extent of its capabilities at its command to discover the sailboats and guarantee the safety of the people on board.

To date, there has been silence on the missing boats by the Cuban government.