Mexico Locates Missing Boats in the Caribbean En Route to Cuba
Posted on 03/30/26 at 13:41
- Missing boats in the Caribbean found after disappearance
- International operation underway
- No details yet on crew condition
The Mexican Navy (Semar) confirmed this Saturday the location of two catamaran-type vessels that had been reported missing in the Mexican Caribbean.
The boats had departed from Isla Mujeres toward Havana carrying humanitarian aid and lost communication at sea.
The discovery comes after several days of uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of the nine crew members, according to EFE.
Why it matters: The vessels were located during an international search and rescue operation following a humanitarian mission bound for Cuba.
Semar locates missing vessels en route to Cuba
The Ministry of the Navy reports that an aircraft from the Mexican Navy located the catamaran-type vessels that were being searched for in the Caribbean.
They were located 80 nautical miles northwest of Havana, Cuba.#PlanMarin pic.twitter.com/guSJG3q9Dq— México Aeroespacial y Defensa (@maeroespacial) March 28, 2026
Semar reported that both vessels were found 80 nautical miles northwest of Havana.
A Mexican Navy ship is already heading to the area to assist the crew members.
The agency stated that radio communication has been established with the located vessels.
So far, no details have been released regarding the health condition of those on board.
The vessels, identified as “Friendship” and “Tigermoth,” had been missing for a week.
Who was on board the missing vessels?
“BREAKING 🚨🚢🇺🇸 The United States Coast Guard reports that vessels carrying aid to Cuba from Mexico were located ⚠️🔥 after being reported missing 💥🌍”
https://t.co/HNdrEPjvg1— JUCA Noticias (@JucaNoticias) March 27, 2026
A total of nine people were traveling on the catamarans.
The crew members were of different nationalities, according to the Ministry of the Navy.
Among them were two women, six men, and a three-year-old child.
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The vessel “Friendship” was carrying four people.
“Tigermoth” had five crew members.
All of them were part of a delegation from the convoy known as Nuestra América.
How did the search operation unfold?
Semar activates search for missing vessels en route to Cuba. Photo: EFE
Semar activated a search-and-rescue plan on Thursday, after contact was lost with both vessels.
The operation included international coordination with maritime rescue centers from several countries.
Among those participating were Poland, France, Cuba, and the United States.
The goal was to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of information in real time.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said that the crew members were activists.
She also noted that they had lost communication at sea after initial contact with a vessel from the convoy.
That ship managed to arrive in Cuba on Tuesday, while the smaller vessels were left without communication.
From that moment, the search process began.
Context of the humanitarian mission
The Nuestra América convoy departed on March 21 from Isla Mujeres.
Its objective was to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba.
The vessels were expected to arrive between March 24 and 25.
They were transporting part of a total cargo of approximately 30 tons.
The aid included food, medicine, hygiene products, and solar panels.
The shipment comes amid Cuba’s economic deterioration and the oil blockade imposed by the United States.
The rescue operation continues while authorities move toward the area where the vessels were found.
More details about the condition of the crew members are expected in the coming hours.
