Search Underway for Missing Aid Ships Bound for Cuba

Sun Mar 29 2026 08:36:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two sailboats carrying humanitarian supplies to Cuba from Mexico have gone missing, prompting a full-scale search and rescue operation involving the Mexican navy.

Two aid ships, Friendship and Tigger Moth, that departed from Mexico for Cuba are currently unaccounted for, sparking a search mission by the Mexican navy. The vessels, carrying nine crew members from various countries, were expected to arrive in Havana earlier this week. Despite extensive search efforts, no communication has been established with the ships. The situation has raised concerns, particularly since Cuba is experiencing critical supply shortages amid ongoing humanitarian crises.

A search and rescue operation is underway in the Caribbean for two missing sailboats filled with humanitarian supplies traveling 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 emphasized its commitment to utilizing all available resources to locate the vessels and ensure the safety of the crews.

Having departed Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico, on March 20, the two boats' crews are from Poland, France, Cuba, and the US. Mexican authorities have also reached out to maritime rescue coordination centers in each of these countries for assistance.

The captains and crews are experienced sailors, and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment, said a spokesperson for the convoy. The spokesperson expressed confidence in the crews' ability to reach Havana safely.

No comments have been made by the Cuban government regarding the missing boats, but earlier in the week, they celebrated the arrival of another vessel that delivered 14 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including solar panels and medicines.

As Cuba continues to grapple with severe shortages exacerbated by international sanctions, these deliveries of aid from Mexico have become increasingly crucial for the island's population.