A extensive search and rescue operation is currently in progress in the Caribbean Sea for a pair of missing boats loaded with aid cargo en route from the Mexican coast to Cuba.
The Mexican government has dispatched naval assets and search planes to search for the two vessels, which were had on board no fewer than nine total sailors, according to a navy statement.
The ships had been projected to arrive in the Cuban capital on the early part of the week, but there has been no communication from them and zero verification of their arrival, the statement clarified.
The Caribbean nation has depended significantly on aid convoys from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the country grapples with repeated power outages across the country.
"Both skippers and their teams are experienced sailors, and the two ships are fitted with suitable navigational gear and communication devices," a representative associated with the mission said.
The nine crew members are nationals of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Officials said it has been in touch with rescue coordination centers from each country along with their embassy officials.
"The group is co-operating fully with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely," the statement continued.
Previously that week, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and warmly received another boat that had delivered a significant amount of relief supplies to the country.
That ship, nicknamed "a new Granma" in reference to the vessel in which Fidel Castro came back to Cuba to start the revolution in the 1950s, brought solar panels, pharmaceuticals, infant formula, cycles and food.
Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of initiatives to bring essential supplies to Cuba since January, coinciding with the time a oil sanctions on the island nation began.
International organizations have since highlighted ""critical" shortages of supplies, with in excess of 50,000 surgical procedures cancelled in Cuba amid power shortages.
Diplomatic pressure have intensified over the past months, with comments from different representatives highlighting the delicate nature of diplomatic ties.
Reacting to recent proposals, a prominent official from Cuba insisted that "the governance model of Cuba is not subject to discussion."
Indications suggest that preliminary steps of discussions had begun, although their current progress remains uncertain.
The Mexican navy said it was committed to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to find the sailboats and guarantee the security of the sailors.
At this time, there has been no official comment on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban leadership.
A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in gaming strategies and industry trends.
