In the early hours of July 13, 1994, the Cuban regime committed a crime that remains unpunished to this day—the sinking of the tugboat 13 de Marzo near the coast of Havana. The premeditated massacre occurred seven miles off the Malecón and resulted in the deaths of 37 people, including 10 children. According to the investigation by Jorge A. García, a Cuban writer and journalist who lost 14 family members in the incident, the victims' bodies were never recovered from the sea.
The sinking of the 13 de Marzo tugboat stands as one of the darkest and most tragic episodes in contemporary Cuban history, yet it remains largely unknown to much of the island's population. The vessel, carrying 62 people desperate to escape the oppressive regime in search of freedom, was deliberately attacked by Cuban government boats.
Three Cuban tugboats, Polargo 1, Polargo 2, and Polargo 3, were responsible for sinking the vessel by ramming it and unleashing massive water jets against it, survivors recounted. For activists, dissidents, survivors of the massacre, and Cuban-American politicians, the impunity enjoyed by the Cuban regime responsible for this massacre is an affront to human rights and the memory of those who perished on that tragic day.
On the 30th anniversary of the massacre, survivors, victims' families, human rights activists, and Cuban exiles will hold several commemorative events in Miami. On Friday, July 12, at 1:00 pm, the ashes of Jorge García Más, who passed away in exile and lost 14 family members in the massacre, were buried. The burial of the journalist and author of an in-depth investigation into the sinking of the 13 de Marzo tugboat took place at the Catholic Cemetery, 11411 NW 25th Street in Doral, as reported by journalist Wilfredo Cancio on social media.
Furthermore, on Saturday, July 13, at 11:30 am, a mass was held at the Ermita de la Caridad del Cobre in Miami for the souls of the tugboat victims, Jorge García, and his recently deceased daughter, María Victoria. María Victoria, who lost her nine-year-old son on that fateful day in July 1994, provided a heartbreaking testimony that helped thousands understand the magnitude of this horrendous crime committed by the Castro regime.
After the mass, a Remembrance Ceremony for the 13 de Marzo tugboat massacre took place on the Malecón behind the Ermita, featuring boats with Cuban flags and flowers.
The Cuban regime has yet to be held accountable for this crime. The perpetrators remain unpunished, and the affected families' pain remains unrelieved. The official newspaper Granma blamed the victims in an article titled "A Lesson for the Irresponsible," presenting an infamous version of events that justified the crime by labeling those on the boat as thieves.
After distorting the facts, the article concluded by citing "investigations" that allegedly indicated that "in this unfortunate accident, there was no intent on the part of any of the three tugboats that tried to stop the thieves." The lack of action and responses from the government reflects the impunity and corruption that have characterized the regime for decades, denounce the victims.
Key Questions About the Sinking of the Tugboat 13 de Marzo
As the tragic events of July 13, 1994, continue to resonate, many questions remain. Here are some answers to key inquiries regarding the sinking of the 13 de Marzo tugboat.
What happened on July 13, 1994?
On July 13, 1994, the Cuban regime deliberately sank the tugboat 13 de Marzo, resulting in the deaths of 37 people, including 10 children, who were attempting to escape the oppressive government.
Who conducted the investigation into the sinking?
Jorge A. García, a Cuban writer and journalist who lost 14 family members in the incident, conducted a thorough investigation into the sinking of the 13 de Marzo tugboat.
How has the Cuban government responded to the incident?
The Cuban government has not held anyone accountable for the massacre. The official newspaper, Granma, blamed the victims and justified the crime by labeling them as thieves.