Foiled Piracy Attack on MT Endo Ponente in the Gulf of Guinea

Foiled Piracy Attack on MT Endo Ponente in the Gulf of Guinea

On August 28, 2025, at 20:53hrs, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) received a distress call from the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade (MDAT) Gulf of Guinea Watchkeepers regarding an attempted piracy attack on the Malta-flagged chemical tanker, MT Endo Ponente. The incident occurred near Lome Port, Togo, at position 05°10’N, 001°23’E.

Swift Response and Rescue Efforts

The NIMASA Special Mission Vessel DB Lagos, operated by the Nigerian Navy under the Deep Blue Project, was immediately deployed to respond to the distress call. The crew of the MT Endo Ponente retreated to the citadel, a secure area on the ship, in line with international best practices for ship security.

Regional Cooperation and Investigation

NIMASA is working closely with the Nigerian Navy and other regional maritime security agencies to ensure the safety of the crew and support ongoing investigations into the incident. The Togo Navy has since boarded the vessel and confirmed that all crew members are safe, with no material damage recorded onboard. The ship is now under the custody of the Togo Navy, which has reported the situation to the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone E.

Commitment to Maritime Security

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to regional maritime security cooperation, stating that NIMASA remains dedicated to strengthening security collaboration across the Gulf of Guinea to safeguard seafarers, deter criminal activity, and ensure safer maritime trade.

About MT Endo Ponente

The MT Endo Ponente is a moderate-risk Maltese-flagged chemical tanker that operates across West, Central, and Southern African regions. Its last port call was at Kalamu, Democratic Republic of Congo.