Two Separate Cuba-bound Humanitarian Vessels Listed Unaccounted For after Setting Sail from Mexican Waters.

A comprehensive search and recovery operation is currently in progress in the Caribbean region for two missing sailboats carrying humanitarian supplies traveling from the Mexican coast to the island of Cuba.

Maritime Rescue Missions Launched

Authorities in Mexico has dispatched naval assets and search planes to search for the two vessels, which were had on board a minimum of nine total crew members, according to a military release.

The ships had been projected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been a complete lack of contact from them and no confirmation of their arrival, authorities reported.

Background of Aid to Cuba

Cuba has relied heavily on Mexico's over recent weeks, as the nation struggles through multiple power outages across the country.

"Both crews and captains are veteran seafarers, and both vessels are equipped with proper navigational gear and signalling equipment," an official involved in the effort said.

The nine-person crew are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba and the US. Mexico said it has been in touch with maritime rescue coordination centres from the involved countries along with their diplomatic representatives.

"Our team is working closely with the authorities and are still optimistic in the capability of the sailors to make it to Cuba without incident," the spokesperson added.

Recent Relief Mission

Just days before, the Cuban government publicly celebrated and officially received a different ship that had delivered 14 tons of relief supplies to the island.

That vessel, dubbed "a modern Granma" in reference to the vessel in which Fidel Castro returned to Cuba to launch the Cuban Revolution in the 1950s, delivered photovoltaic panels, drugs, infant formula, bicycles and provisions.

Larger International Climate

Non-governmental organizations and volunteers have been at the forefront of attempts to bring essential supplies to Cuba since January, coinciding with the time a energy blockade on the island nation was initiated.

Global bodies have since raised alarms about "dire" supply shortages, with more than fifty thousand surgeries cancelled in Cuba because of energy rationing.

Foreign policy measures have been ramped up lately, with comments from several officials underscoring the complicated state of diplomatic ties.

Reacting to previous statements, a high-ranking official from Cuba insisted that "the governance model of Cuba is non-negotiable."

Indications suggest that early stages of negotiations were initiated, although their present status remains not publicly known.

The naval forces stated it was dedicated to using all of the resources at its disposal to locate the sailboats and ensure the security of the people on board.

At this time, there has been silence on the missing boats by the Cuban government.