Two Separate Cuba-bound Relief Ships Declared Unaccounted For following Leaving Mexico.

A comprehensive rescue and recovery operation is presently under way in the Caribbean region for a duo of unlocated boats transporting relief goods traveling from Mexico to Cuba.

Naval Search Operations Launched

Authorities in Mexico has deployed naval assets and military search aircraft to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board no fewer than nine total sailors, according to a official statement.

The vessels had been scheduled to arrive in Havana on either Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no confirmation of their safe arrival, the navy said.

Background of Aid to the Island

The island nation has relied heavily on humanitarian shipments from Mexico over recent weeks, as the country struggles through widespread power outages across the country.

"Both skippers and their teams are experienced sailors, and each boat are outfitted with proper safety systems and signalling equipment," an official involved in the effort said.

The nine-person crew are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexican authorities said it has opened communications with coast guard agencies from those nations along with their diplomatic representatives.

"Our team is co-operating fully with the officials and are still optimistic in the crews' ability to safely arrive in Havana," the official further stated.

Earlier Humanitarian Shipment

Just days before, the government in Havana warmly welcomed and officially received another boat that had delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the nation.

That ship, called "a modern Granma" in reference to the yacht in which Fidel Castro returned to Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the mid-20th century, delivered photovoltaic panels, pharmaceuticals, baby formula, cycles and provisions.

Wider International Climate

Charity groups and individuals have been at the forefront of initiatives to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba starting at the turn of the year, when a fuel embargo on the island nation came into effect.

The United Nations have since warned of "dire" shortages of supplies, with over fifty thousand operations cancelled in Cuba because of power shortages.

Diplomatic measures have intensified in recent months, with comments from several officials underscoring the complicated state of bilateral relations.

In response to previous comments, a prominent official from Cuba declared that "the socialist system of Cuba is not subject to discussion."

Indications suggest that initial phases of talks had begun, although their present status remains uncertain.

The maritime authorities stated it was dedicated to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to discover the vessels and ensure the safety of the people on board.

To date, there has been no official comment on the missing boats by the Cuban leadership.