Two Cuba-Headed Aid Vessels Declared Lost after Departing Mexico.

A comprehensive search and rescue operation is currently ongoing in the Caribbean waters for a pair of lost boats transporting relief goods journeying from the Mexican coast to Cuba.

Military Search and Rescue Operations Launched

The Mexican government has deployed naval assets and search planes to locate the missing boats, which were transporting a minimum of nine total sailors, according to a navy statement.

The boats had been scheduled to arrive in Cuba's capital on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no official word of their safe arrival, the navy said.

The Situation of Humanitarian Support to Cuba

The Caribbean nation has leaned on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over the last several weeks, as the island struggles through multiple nationwide blackouts.

"Both skippers and their teams are veteran seafarers, and each boat are outfitted with suitable navigational gear and signalling equipment," a representative involved in the effort stated.

The nine-person crew are nationals of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Mexican authorities said it has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from those nations along with their embassy officials.

"We are collaborating completely with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to safely arrive in Havana," the statement continued.

Previous Relief Shipment

Just days before, the Cuban government publicly celebrated and warmly received a different ship that had transported 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the country.

That boat, nicknamed "a new Granma" after the yacht in which the revolutionary leader came back to Cuba to begin the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, carried solar panels, pharmaceuticals, infant formula, bicycles and provisions.

Larger International Backdrop

Charity groups and individuals have primarily led attempts to deliver essential supplies to Cuba since January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the country began.

Global bodies have since raised alarms about ""severe" shortages of supplies, with in excess of fifty thousand operations cancelled in Cuba because of electricity supply constraints.

Diplomatic pressure have been ramped up in recent months, with statements from different representatives highlighting the delicate nature of relations.

Responding to previous comments, a prominent official from Cuba insisted that "the political system of Cuba is not subject to discussion."

Indications suggest that early stages of discussions had begun, although their present status remains unclear.

The maritime authorities stated it was dedicated to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to find the sailboats and ensure the security of the sailors.

At this time, there has been silence on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban government.