The cargo vessel 'LSS SUCESS' was located 200km off Madagascar's coast on Sunday at 4am according to the Marine Traffic application and remained disconnected throughout the day. The ship 'LSS SUCESS' should not have approached Madagascar's exclusive economic zone in the south. Departing from Mozambique with a cattle cargo destined, according to Mozambican authorities, for Conakry, Guinea, it now raises numerous questions.

Madagascar authorities issued an alert Saturday evening. A cattle transport ship departing from Mozambique headed toward Madagascar's exclusive economic zone, despite its final destination being Conakry, Guinea, according to Mozambican authorities. The 'LSS SUCESS', registered in Tanzania, reportedly carries approximately five hundred head of zebu cattle. Mozambique's veterinary services had authorized the transport of 547 male zebu to Conakry, Guinea. However, the vessel changed course.

"At 4am yesterday Sunday, the cargo ship flying the Tanzanian flag, identified under number 6927092, MMSI 677035200, was in transit approximately 125.82 nautical miles, or 233 kilometers southwest of Nosy Manintse, at Androka. It was heading east-northeast and its last transmission was at 0h19," detailed Luc Findrama, regional director of Agriculture and Livestock for Atsimo Andrefana.

According to MarineTraffic, which tracks ship positions in real-time, the 'LSS SUCESS' left Mozambique on June 22 and was supposed to reach Mauritius, with arrival scheduled for July 7. However, according to latest available data yesterday evening, the vessel had been silent for nearly eighteen hours. "Was it hijacked by pirates? Did it attempt to reach Mauritius illegally? Did Mozambican authorities make an error?" These are among the hypotheses circulating since yesterday around the cargo.

Health Status Concerns

Madagascar authorities fear the ship carries animals presenting a health risk. Throughout Sunday, the vessel remained in Madagascar's exclusive economic zone according to MarineTraffic data. "It has since gone silent, which heightens the very suspicious nature of the ship's intentions," emphasized Toliara's prefect, Bruno Ibramdjee.

At press time, the vessel still shows no signs of life. According to the regional director of Agriculture and Livestock for Atsimo Andrefana, Madagascar maintains a "disease-free status" regarding highly contagious animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease or peste des petits ruminants. Risks associated with this ship's passage or potential docking on southern Madagascar's coast from Mozambique are therefore considered significant. Atsimo Andrefana regional authorities have already mobilized local risk and disaster management representatives to address any eventuality.

The 'LSS SUCESS' was previously involved in an incident in 2020 following the transport of a drug cargo valued at approximately 30 million Mauritian rupees. In 2021, around forty cattle died during transport of nearly five hundred head of livestock from South Africa destined for Mauritius.