Missing Cuba-bound aid boats located, crews 'safe': Convoy organisers

## Summary
The sailboats Friendship and Tigger Moth, carrying humanitarian aid for Cuba and crewed by activists taking part in the Nuestra America Convoy flotilla, depart Isla Mujeres, in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, on Mar 21, 2026. (File photo: Reuters/Paola Chiomante) 28 Mar 2026 07:02PM (Updated: 28 Mar 2026 07:07PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST HAVANA: Two sailboats carrying aid to Cuba that went missing have been found, convoy organisers said on Saturday (Mar 28), but Mexico's navy leading the search had yet to comment as circumstances around the vessels' disappearance remained unclear. The sailboats are part of an international convoy that has brought 50 tonnes of medical supplies, food, solar panels and other goods to support Cuba as a US fuel blockade has deepened the communist-ruled island's energy and economic crisis. "We are relieved to confirm that the two sailboats have been located by the Mexican Navy, the crews are safe, and the vessels are continuing their journey to Havana," a spokesperson for the Nuestra America Convoy said on Saturday. CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "The Convoy remains on track to complete its mission - delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people," the spokesperson said, thanking Mexican and Cuban authorities for their "support, coordination, and professionalism".

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Missing Cuba-bound aid boats located, crews 'safe': Convoy organisers
The sailboats are part of an international convoy that has brought 50 tonnes of medical supplies, food, solar panels and other goods to support Cuba amid a US fuel blockade.
The sailboats Friendship and Tigger Moth, carrying humanitarian aid for Cuba and crewed by activists taking part in the Nuestra America Convoy flotilla, depart Isla Mujeres, in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, on Mar 21, 2026. (File photo: Reuters/Paola Chiomante)
28 Mar 2026 07:02PM
(Updated: 28 Mar 2026 07:07PM)
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HAVANA: Two sailboats carrying aid to Cuba that
went missing
have been found, convoy organisers said on Saturday (Mar 28), but Mexico's navy leading the search had yet to comment as circumstances around the vessels' disappearance remained unclear.
The Mexican Navy reported on Thursday that it began a search and rescue mission after losing communication with the vessels, which left from Isla Mujeres in southeast Mexico a week ago with nine people aboard.
The sailboats are part of an international convoy that has brought 50 tonnes of medical supplies, food, solar panels and other goods to support Cuba as a US fuel blockade has deepened the communist-ruled island's energy and economic crisis.
"We are relieved to confirm that the two sailboats have been located by the Mexican Navy, the crews are safe, and the vessels are continuing their journey to Havana," a spokesperson for the Nuestra America Convoy said on Saturday.
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"The Convoy remains on track to complete its mission - delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people," the spokesperson said, thanking Mexican and Cuban authorities for their "support, coordination, and professionalism".
The convoy spokesperson did not say why the two boats lost contact.
The Mexican Navy has yet to confirm that it has located the vessels.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that the search for the sailboats - the Friend Ship and Tiger Moth - was ongoing.
A Mexican Navy ship had "established contact with them and after a few hours it no longer had contact with them. At that point, a search operation was initiated", Sheinbaum said at a news conference in Mexico City.
Around the same time she spoke, the US Coast Guard told AFP that it had "received a report at 10.36am (2.36pm GMT) today that the two vessels safely transited to Cuba".
The Coast Guard, however, later released an "updated" statement saying the Mexican Navy was leading the "ongoing search" along with Cuban authorities.
It added that it was not involved in the search.
Cuban and Mexican authorities have so far not confirmed any sightings of the vessels.
The Mexican Navy had indicated that the boats were due to arrive between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Havana was "doing everything possible" to help the search.
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"EXPERIENCED" SAILORS
The first shipments from the Our America Convoy arrived by plane from Europe and the United States last week.
A fishing boat that was converted into an aid vessel, which had also left Mexico last week, arrived in Cuba on Tuesday, a few days later than planned due to unfavourable weather, currents and battery issues.
It had been escorted by a Mexican Navy ship part of the way.
After the Mexican Navy reported on Thursday that the two sailboats were missing, a spokesperson for Our America Convoy said organisers remained confident in the "experienced" crew's ability to reach Havana safely.
Both vessels were equipped "with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment", the spokesperson said, adding that based on their speed, they could arrive in Cuba between Friday night and Saturday morning.
Naval authorities did not specify the identities or nationalities of the boats' crew members, but said they were maintaining communication with rescue agencies in Poland, France, Cuba and the United States.
Meanwhile, a Mexican Navy ship carrying 111 tonnes of food and other donations arrived in Havana on Friday, according to official Cuban media.
Mexico has now sent four shipments of aid to Cuba totalling more than 3,000 tonnes, though it has yet to resume oil deliveries.
US President Donald Trump imposed a de facto oil blockade on Cuba in January after US forces seized Venezu

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST HAVANA: Two sailboats carrying aid to Cuba that went missing have been found, convoy organisers said on Saturday (Mar 28), but Mexico's navy leading the search had yet to comment as circumstances around the vessels' disappearance remained unclear.
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "The Convoy remains on track to complete its mission - delivering urgently needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people," the spokesperson said, thanking Mexican and Cuban authorities for their "support, coordination, and professionalism".

### Implications
- Both vessels were equipped "with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment", the spokesperson said, adding that based on their speed, they could arrive in Cuba between Friday night and Saturday morning.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers cuba, mexican, convoy topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 944.