Two Separate Cuba-bound Aid Ships Listed Lost after Leaving the Coast of Mexico.

A extensive search and recovery mission is currently in progress in the Caribbean Sea for a duo of missing sailing vessels carrying aid cargo en route from the Mexican coast to Cuba.

Naval Search and Rescue Efforts Launched

Authorities in Mexico has dispatched naval teams and search planes to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying a minimum of 9 crew members, per a official statement.

The boats had been scheduled to reach the Cuban capital on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and zero verification of their arrival, authorities reported.

Background of Relief to the Nation

The island nation has leaned on Mexico's over recent weeks, as the country grapples with repeated nationwide blackouts.

"Both crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and each boat are equipped with suitable navigational gear and signalling equipment," an official involved in the effort said.

The nine-person crew are citizens of the United States, Cuba, France, and Poland. Officials said it has established contact with rescue coordination centers from the involved countries along with their embassy officials.

"We are collaborating completely with the authorities and are still optimistic in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely," the spokesperson added.

Recent Humanitarian Shipment

Earlier in the week, the government in Havana publicly celebrated and greeted with fanfare a separate vessel that had delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the country.

That ship, nicknamed "Granma 2.0" after the boat in which Fidel Castro landed in Cuba to launch the armed struggle in the mid-20th century, brought photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, baby formula, cycles and provisions.

Larger International Backdrop

Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have largely spearheaded initiatives to ship critical assistance to Cuba since January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the country was initiated.

The United Nations have since highlighted ""critical" shortages of supplies, with over 50k operations postponed in Cuba due to power shortages.

Political pressure have increased in recent months, with comments from different leaders underscoring the complicated nature of bilateral relations.

Reacting to certain proposals, a senior official from Cuba declared that "the governance model of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Accounts suggest that preliminary steps of talks were initiated, although their present status remains unclear.

The naval forces said it was pledged to using every available asset at its reach to discover the boats and guarantee the safety of the people on board.

At this time, there has been no public statement on the disappeared vessels by the Cuban leadership.