Two Separate Cuba-Headed Humanitarian Ships Reported Unaccounted For following Leaving Mexican Waters.

A large-scale search and rescue mission is actively in progress in the Caribbean waters for a pair of unlocated sailboats transporting humanitarian supplies traveling from Mexico to Cuba.

Military Search Missions Launched

Mexico has dispatched navy personnel and search planes to find the Friendship and Tigger Moth, which were had on board no fewer than nine crew members, according to a military release.

The ships had been expected to make landfall in Cuba's capital on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication from them and no confirmation of their docking, authorities reported.

Background of Aid to Cuba

The island nation has leaned on Mexico's over recent weeks, as the country endures widespread national electricity failures.

"Both skippers and their teams are seasoned mariners, and the two ships are outfitted with appropriate safety systems and emergency beacons," a representative involved in the effort said.

The nine crew members are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexico said it has been in touch with coast guard agencies from each country along with their consular staff.

"The group is co-operating fully with the officials and continue to be hopeful in the ability of the crews to make it to Cuba without incident," the official further stated.

Recent Humanitarian Mission

Just days before, the Cuban authorities publicly celebrated and greeted with fanfare a different ship that had delivered 14 tons of humanitarian aid to the island.

That vessel, called "a new Granma" following the name of the yacht in which Castro landed in Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, delivered solar panels, medicines, baby formula, bicycles and foodstuffs.

Wider International Backdrop

Volunteers and NGOs have largely spearheaded initiatives to ship essential supplies to Cuba beginning in January, a period which saw a fuel embargo on the Communist-run nation came into effect.

Global bodies have since raised alarms about ""critical" supply shortages, with in excess of fifty thousand surgeries postponed in Cuba due to electricity supply constraints.

Foreign policy pressure have been ramped up over the past months, with statements from several officials emphasizing the delicate situation regarding bilateral relations.

Responding to previous statements, a high-ranking Cuban official declared that "the political system of Cuba is not up for negotiation."

Indications suggest that preliminary steps of negotiations had begun, although their present status remains uncertain.

The naval forces stated it was dedicated to using the full extent of its capabilities at its disposal to discover the sailboats and secure the security of the crews.

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