A fiasco with a Venezuelan warship occurred during military exercises, when the amphibious transport Capana (ARV T-61) was partially sunk off the country’s northern coast.
An amphibious transport ship of the Venezuelan Navy, the Capana (ARV T-61), was partially sunk off the country’s northern coast, after it ran aground during a military exercise, according to unofficial reports and images from social media.
The incident occurred near Cumarebo, in the state of Falcón, leaving the ship with a severe list and its forward section submerged.
According to reports, the ship has sustained damage to its hull that could even render it unfit for service. No official statement has been issued by the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense or the Navy regarding the status of the ship or its approximately 300 crew members.
The Capana was built in South Korea in 1983 and entered service in Venezuela in 1984. It underwent extensive repairs between 2020 and 2023 at state-owned shipyards with technical support from UCOCAR, receiving upgrades to its propulsion, communications, navigation systems, weapons, and crew accommodation spaces.
The ship had recently been assigned to the Amphibious Reaction Unit in the state of Zulia. The grounding took place amidst increased military activities ordered by President Nicolás Maduro, who recently expanded the Plan Independencia 200, a series of readiness exercises and troop movements along Venezuela’s borders and coasts.
These exercises coincided with US military deployments in the Caribbean, including B-52 bombers that conducted overflights near Venezuelan airspace. Venezuelan authorities described these operations as provocations and urged Latin American nations to oppose a potential escalation in the region.
Unofficial sources and opposition channels reported that the Capana ran aground during a maneuver near the shore, causing water ingress, flooding in the forward section, and a loss of buoyancy.
There is no official confirmation of casualties or injuries, and no information has been published regarding rescue or repair efforts.
🛑🚢Buque del régimen encalla frente a las costas de Falcón 🇻🇪
⚓ El transporte Capana ARV T-61, perteneciente a la Armada del régimen, encalló y comenzó a hacer agua cerca de Cumarebo, estado Falcón, según videos difundidos en redes sociales.
📹 Las imágenes muestran el casco… /pgUyfZk3Vy
— EVTV (@EVTVMiami) October 16, 2025
The Capana is a Capana-Alligator class landing ship, designed to transport troops, vehicles, and military equipment, with the capability for direct beach landing without port facilities. The ship is approximately 100 meters long, has a displacement of 4,000 tons, and can carry up to 100 soldiers.
However, amidst a period of increased tension with the United States, this incident constitutes a serious blow to the Venezuelan Navy and personally for Nicolás Maduro. The loss of a warship so ignominiously, which had just returned to service after extensive repairs, is not only an operational failure, it is primarily a communications one.
At a time when the government is attempting to project strength and readiness, such an image of a sunken warship acts as a symbol of weakness and exposes the regime to internal and international questioning. For a country that systematically invests in its military propaganda, this naval “fiasco” is much more than an accident. It is a blow to the prestige of the president himself.
