A SEARCH-and-rescue operation was launched on Thursday night after two sailing boats filled with humanitarian aid went missing en route from Mexico to Cuba.

The Friendship and Tiger Moth, carrying at least nine crew members, had been expected to arrive in Havana on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there has been no communication with them, according to a Mexican navy statement.

They left Isla Mujeres in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo on March 20.

The nine crew members are from Poland, France, Cuba and the United States. 

In a statement to the Reuters news agency, the convoy’s spokesperson said: “The captains and crews are experienced sailors and both vessels are equipped with appropriate safety systems and signalling equipment.

“We are co-operating fully with the authorities and remain confident in the crews’ ability to reach Havana safely.”

Activists and NGOs have spearheaded efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba since January, when US President Donald Trump imposed his fuel embargo on the Caribbean island.

He has increased pressure on Cuba since US forces staged an illegal and unprovoked attack on Venezuela on January 3, during which they killed 100 people and kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores.

Venezuela had previously provided large quantities of oil to the socialist island.