The sailboat Astral, operated by the Spanish NGO Open Arms, arrived in Havana on Saturday carrying seven tonnes of humanitarian and medical aid, including photovoltaic equipment earmarked for the intensive-care unit of Havana's Juan Manuel Márquez pediatric hospital.
The vessel departed Barcelona on May 14 as part of the "Rumbo a Cuba" initiative, a coalition of more than 150 social, union, and political groups backing the mission. The journey covered roughly 6,200 nautical miles over more than 20 days, routing through Mexico before reaching the Cuban capital.
The delivery comes as Cuba endures a deepening energy and economic crisis. The national grid has suffered three full blackouts in fewer than 10 days, with peak demand exceeding 3,000 megawatts against actual production of as little as 1,224. A U.S. oil blockade has further tightened fuel supplies on the island.