Togolese Navy Thwarts Piracy Attempt Against Maltese Chemical Tanker in Gulf of Guinea

The Togolese Navy has successfully repelled a piracy attempt targeting the Malta-flagged chemical tanker *MT Endo Ponente* in the Gulf of Guinea, according to an official statement released by regional maritime authorities on Friday.

The incident unfolded late Thursday when the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) received an alert from the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade, Gulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) indicating a potential unauthorized boarding near the port of Lomé. In swift response, NIMASA activated its Deep Blue Project, deploying the Special Mission Vessel DB Lagos in coordination with the Nigerian Navy.

Following established security protocols, the crew of the MT Endo Ponente secured themselves in the vessel’s citadel until naval support arrived. A Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) team from the Togolese Navy subsequently boarded the tanker, confirmed the safety of all crew members, and took the vessel under protective custody. No injuries or significant damage were reported.

The incident was formally reported to the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone E, part of the Yaoundé Architecture framework for regional maritime security cooperation between Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Niger. An investigation is currently underway to identify the perpetrators.

Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of NIMASA, praised the rapid and effective collaboration among regional navies, emphasizing the continued importance of the Deep Blue Project and international partnerships in combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

By Oshuniran Sheriff Ola