Two Separate Cuba-bound Humanitarian Vessels Declared Lost after Leaving Mexico.

A large-scale search and rescue effort is currently in progress in the Caribbean Sea for a pair of lost sailboats carrying relief goods journeying from Mexico to the island of Cuba.

Maritime Search and Rescue Efforts Deployed

The Mexican government has dispatched naval teams and reconnaissance aircraft to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board no fewer than nine sailors, according to a military release.

The boats had been projected to reach the Cuban capital on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no official word of their docking, authorities reported.

The Situation of Relief to the Island

Cuba has leaned on Mexico's over recent weeks, as the nation endures repeated power outages across the country.

"Both skippers and their teams are veteran seafarers, and each boat are fitted with suitable safety systems and emergency beacons," a representative associated with the mission commented.

The nine crew members are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has established contact with rescue coordination centers from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.

"The group is working closely with the relevant authorities and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to reach Havana safely," the official further stated.

Earlier Humanitarian Mission

Previously that week, the government in Havana widely celebrated and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had transported 14 tonnes of donated goods to the country.

That ship, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" in reference to the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, brought photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, baby formula, bicycles and provisions.

Wider Political Backdrop

Volunteers and NGOs have primarily led initiatives to ship critical assistance to Cuba beginning in January, a period which saw a oil sanctions on the country came into effect.

International organizations have since raised alarms about ""critical" lack of essential goods, with more than fifty thousand surgeries postponed in Cuba due to energy rationing.

Foreign policy tensions have intensified in recent months, with statements from different leaders emphasizing the delicate state of bilateral relations.

Responding to previous statements, a senior official from Cuba stated firmly that "the political system of Cuba is not subject to discussion."

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

The maritime authorities stated it was committed to using all of the resources at its reach to locate the boats and secure the well-being of the sailors.

To date, there has been no official comment on the lost ships by the government in Havana.