A group of 12 Cuban rafters who had been adrift in the Caribbean Sea for days were rescued by a luxury cruise ship.
According to the local press, the cruise placed these Cubans in the custody of the Mexican authorities, so that they could determine if they could remain in Mexico or would be returned to the Greater Antilles.
According to the channel TV Aztecait was the Norwegian Prima ship, belonging to the Norwegian Cruise Line company, and the rafters were found about 200 miles off the coast of the state of Quinta Roo, near the small port of Mahahual.
This rescue was carried out within international waters, and the Cubans were transferred to the cruise ship dock located in that fishing port, where they received immediate medical assistance from the staff of the Chetumal Naval Hospital, as some presented signs of dehydration.
🚨 Cuban rafters rescued 🆘
12 were rescued #rafters #cubans in waters of #Caribbean Seanearly #Mahahual.
The rescue was carried out by #cruise tourist #NorwegianPrimaapproximately 200 miles off the coast of #Quintana Roo.#QuintanaNews #Quintanarroenses pic.twitter.com/jtcWNNsyln
— Quintana News (@QuintanaNews_) January 30, 2024
Subsequently, these were delivered to the National Migration Institute (INM), this as part of the procedure carried out after the rescue of rafters at sea.
In recent months, the number of Cuban rafters trying to reach the United States illegally has increased, and with it, the number of complaints reporting their rescue on the high seas has also increased.
Several of them are sighted by fishing boats and even vessels belonging to the Mexican authorities, however, It has become common for luxury cruise ships to also report finding Cubans in the water.
As dictated by law, the captains of these cruises approach the boats to offer water, food and medical care to the boat’s passengers, while at the same time evaluating the vessel on which they travel.
If it determines that the vessel is not in adequate condition to continue the trip, or if it establishes that the weather conditions put the passengers at risk, it may refuse to allow them to continue on their way and order that they be taken on board.
However, by doing this, the captain has the obligation to notify the corresponding authorities about the presence of the rafters, so that a boat from the US Coast Guard (USCG) or the Mexican Navy, agree with the cruise ship and determine where to meet to carry out the transfer of the Cubans.
