Emergency Search for Two Missing Aid Ships En Route to Cuba

Fri Mar 27 2026 08:56:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Mexican navy has launched a search and rescue operation for two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid that have gone missing while traveling from Mexico to Cuba.

A desperate search is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats, Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were filled with humanitarian supplies for Cuba and disappeared while making their voyage from Mexico. The Mexican navy has mobilized naval teams and military aircraft, announcing it was fully committed to locating the vessels and ensuring the safety of their nine crew members, who hail from several countries including Poland, France, Cuba, and the US. Both vessels departed on March 20 and were expected to reach Havana shortly.

A search and rescue operation is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies travelling from Mexico to Cuba.

Mexico has deployed naval teams and military search aircraft to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were carrying at least nine crew members, the Mexican navy said in a statement.

The vessels had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their arrival, the navy said.

The Mexican navy stated it is committed to using all resources at its disposal to locate the boats and ensure the crews' safety.

The two missing ships departed Isla Mujeres, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on 20 March.

The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba, and the US. Mexico has contacted maritime rescue coordination centers from each country along with their diplomatic representatives.

The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signaling equipment, a spokesman for the convoy stated.

We are co-operating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely.

There has been no comment on the missing boats from the Cuban government.

Earlier this week, the Cuban government celebrated another boat that had delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the island.

Volunteers and NGOs have led many efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba since January, when US President Donald Trump began the fuel embargo on the Communist-run country.

The UN has issued warnings of dire supply shortages, with over 50,000 surgeries canceled in Cuba due to electrical supply constraints.

Recently, Cuba has relied heavily on Mexican humanitarian shipments amid ongoing nationwide blackouts.

The situation is further complicated by ongoing tensions between the US and Cuba, particularly after Trump's administration ramped up pressure following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has highlighted the beginning stages of US-Cuba negotiations, although details remain unclear.