Two catamarans that departed from Isla Mujeres, Mexico on March 20th have been located by the Mexican Navy, with crews reported safe and continuing to Havana.
Search for Polish-Flagged Catamarans
The catamarans set sail from Isla Mujeres on March 20th. According to a statement released Thursday evening by the Mexican Navy on the government website, the vessels were expected to arrive in Havana on March 24th or 25th, but “no message confirming their arrival was received.”
The Mexican Navy launched a search for the Polish-flagged catamarans on Friday, deploying several units to conduct operations at sea and from the air along the likely route between Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Havana.
The yacht crews consist of several activists of various nationalities. The Colombian newspaper “El Tiempo” reported that they are citizens of Poland, France, Cuba, and the USA. On Friday, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wawiór informed the media that the ministry had received confirmation that the missing boats were sailing under the Polish flag, but did not confirm information about Polish crew members.
Catamarans Located, Crews Safe
The search proved successful. “We are pleased to confirm that both units have been located by the Mexican Navy. The crews are safe, and the yachts are continuing their journey to Havana,” stated a spokesperson for the Nuestra America convoy, as quoted by AFP and Reuters.
Cuba Faces Economic Crisis
Cuba is grappling with a deepening economic crisis, largely due to the US embargo on oil imports from Venezuela and threats from Washington regarding other potential suppliers. The island is also still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which struck in late October and November 2025.
Foreign Ministry Advises Against Travel to Cuba
The Foreign Ministry has changed its travel warning for Cuba to level four on its website, advising against all travel to Cuba due to the worsening energy and fuel crisis, making it difficult to provide assistance in emergencies, restrictions on air travel to Europe, and the risk of social unrest.
The ministry raised the warning level for travel to Cuba to level three in mid-February, advising against non-essential travel. According to the Foreign Ministry, 200 Polish citizens are currently in Cuba. The Polish Embassy in Havana is monitoring the situation and will provide updates on significant changes regarding air operations on the embassy’s social media channels.