Two Cuba-bound Relief Sailboats Declared Unaccounted For following Departing the Coast of Mexico.

A large-scale search and rescue mission is presently under way in the Caribbean region for a pair of missing boats transporting relief goods traveling from the Mexican coast to Cuba.

Military Rescue Efforts Deployed

The Mexican government has dispatched navy personnel and search planes to locate the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board a minimum of nine total crew members, according to a navy statement.

The vessels had been scheduled to arrive in Cuba's capital on the early part of the week, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and zero verification of their safe arrival, authorities reported.

The Situation of Aid to the Nation

Cuba has relied heavily on Mexico's over the past few weeks, as the island struggles through widespread nationwide blackouts.

"The crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and each boat are equipped with suitable safety systems and emergency beacons," a representative for the convoy said.

The nine-person crew are from Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Officials said it has established contact with maritime rescue coordination centres from each country along with their embassy officials.

"The group is collaborating completely with the relevant authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to reach Havana safely," the official further stated.

Previous Humanitarian Shipment

Just days before, the Cuban authorities widely celebrated and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had delivered 14 tonnes of relief supplies to the island.

That vessel, nicknamed "a new Granma" in reference to the yacht in which Fidel Castro landed in Cuba to start the revolution in the 1950s, carried solar equipment, pharmaceuticals, baby formula, bikes and food.

Larger Geopolitical Climate

Volunteers and NGOs have been at the forefront of efforts to deliver critical assistance to Cuba since January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the Communist-run nation came into effect.

The United Nations have since warned of ""severe" shortages of supplies, with in excess of fifty thousand surgical procedures cancelled in Cuba because of power shortages.

Political measures have been ramped up over the past months, with statements from different officials emphasizing the delicate situation regarding relations.

In response to previous proposals, a senior Cuban official stated firmly that "the political system of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Indications suggest that initial phases of negotiations commenced, although their present status remains uncertain.

The naval forces affirmed it was pledged to using all of the resources at its disposal to discover the boats and secure the safety of the crews.

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