Container ship sailing to Cuba from the United States

A container ship coming from the United States is heading towards Cuba and is expected to arrive at the port of Mariel in the coming hours, according to maritime tracking data.

The vessel, identified as SEABOARD GALAXY (IMO 9970959), departed from New Orleans on March 15 and is currently crossing the Gulf of Mexico with a reported destination of Mariel, Cuba, according to maritime traffic monitoring platforms such as Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder.

Records indicate that the ship left the U.S. port around 17:50 (UTC-5) and is maintaining a speed close to 17 knots. The estimated arrival time at Mariel is set for the morning of March 17, approximately at 08:00 (UTC-4).

The SEABOARD GALAXY is a relatively new container ship—built in 2024—operating under the flag of Liberia. It has a length of 172 meters, a beam of 28 meters, and a capacity to carry up to 17,000 tons of cargo, according to available maritime data.

Tracking platforms do not specify the contents of the containers. However, this type of trade route between ports in the southern United States and the Port of Mariel is usually associated with the shipping of food and refrigerated products, including chicken, pork, and other supplies intended for the state market and the tourism sector.

Although these trips are not unusual and are part of the authorized food trade between the two countries, the ship's movement has caught attention on social media due to the timing of its occurrence, amidst the deep economic crisis facing the island and the political tensions between Havana and Washington.

In recent years, the United States has remained one of the main food suppliers for Cuba, despite the sanctions and financial restrictions imposed on the Cuban regime.

Images and navigation data shared on social media show the route of the ship from Louisiana to the northern coast of Cuba, confirming its approach to the island's main container port.

The Port of Mariel, located to the west of Havana, has become a key point for the arrival of goods to Cuba and one of the main entry points for imported food in a country marked by scarcity.