Caroline Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On June 28, 2026, the LCT 'Caroline' departed from Toamasina at 5 a.m., loaded with 254 tons of white rice, oil in jerrycans, a truck with a trailer, and various other goods. Tragically, the vessel began taking on water and sank around 7 p.m. in the waters between Andevoranto and Vatomandry. As part of the rescue efforts, four other ships that had left the port alongside the 'Caroline' were quickly mobilized to assist. Despite challenges in pinpointing the ship's exact position, the Vatomandry Joint Planning Body (OMC), led by the district chief, quickly coordinated the response once the incident was reported. A rescue team equipped with a Zodiac was dispatched to conduct search operations at sea, while the Maritime and River Port Agency (APMF) deployed their search and rescue (SAR) team aboard the patrol boat 'Atsantsa.' Their efforts paid off, as the first individual was located early on June 29, with two others found around 11:00 a.m. By 2 p.m. that day, all 18 crew members and passengers aboard the LCT 'Caroline' had been successfully rescued. The operation highlights the effective collaboration and rapid response of maritime agencies in emergency situations.

In a daring act of theft, two armed robbers targeted the landing craft 'Merlin III' while it was securely moored at the Pointe Noire anchorage in Congo. This incident occurred late at night on October 20, 2018, at approximately 11:15 PM. A vigilant crew member observed the assailants, equipped with long knives, as they attempted to lower stolen mooring ropes to an accomplice waiting in a wooden boat. Quick to respond, the crew raised the alarm, prompting the robbers to abandon their activities and flee the scene in their vessel. A thorough search of the 'Merlin III' revealed that several mooring ropes were indeed missing from the poop deck, underscoring the brazen nature of the attempted robbery.