HAVANA, Cuba—Two humanitarian sailboats successfully docked in Havana on Saturday following a tense international search operation after the vessels went missing for two days in the Caribbean Sea. The sailboats, carrying nine crew members, were part of the Our America Convoy initiative delivering critical aid to Cuba amid the nation’s severe energy and economic crisis.
The Mexican Navy initiated a search-and-rescue mission Thursday after losing communication with the Friend Ship and Tiger Moth, which had departed from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on March 20. The situation grew more complex Friday when the U.S. Coast Guard initially reported the vessels had safely reached Cuba, only to retract the statement hours later and clarify they were not involved in the operation.
The breakthrough came early Saturday when a Mexican naval aircraft located the sailboats approximately 80 nautical miles northwest of Havana. A naval ship was subsequently deployed to escort the vessels to safety. While the identities and nationalities of the crew remain undisclosed, the Mexican Navy had coordinated with rescue agencies from Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States during the search.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel had expressed concern about the disappearance Friday, pledging his government’s full cooperation in locating the missing vessels. The successful arrival marks the final delivery of the Our America Convoy, which has transported over 50 tonnes of medical supplies, food, water, and solar panels to Cuban hospitals and communities.
The humanitarian mission arrives as Cuba faces intensified economic pressure from the United States. The Trump administration implemented a de facto oil blockade in January following the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who had been Cuba’s primary fuel supplier. President Trump recently reiterated his aggressive stance toward Cuba, stating at a Miami investment forum, ‘Cuba is next, by the way,’ though adding, ‘But pretend I didn’t say that.’
The convoy has drawn criticism from Cuban exiles in Miami who argue the aid primarily benefits the communist government rather than ordinary citizens. This delivery follows earlier shipments that arrived by air from Europe and the United States, as well as a converted fishing boat that reached Cuba on Tuesday after encountering weather and mechanical difficulties.