Nigerian Navy Moves to Rescue Tanker Vessel in GoG as Pirates Attempt Attacks
By Francis Ugwoke
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy have moved to rescue a Malta-flagged chemical tanker, ENDO PONENTE, which was targeted by pirates for attack in the Gulf of Guinea territorial waters.
The vessel came under attempted attack on Thursday when the the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in a press statement by the Head of Public Relations, Edwards Osagie, said the agency received alert from the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade (MDAT) Gulf of Guinea Watchkeepers.
The pirates were said to have attempted boarding the Malta-flagged chemical tanker, ENDO PONENTE, at position 05°10’N, 001°23’E, close to Lome Port, Togo.
Part of the press statement from NIMASA reads: “Intelligence gathered from the C4i Centre later placed the vessel at 04°19’16”N, 01°35’59”E, within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The NIMASA Special Mission Vessel DB Lagos, operated by the Nigerian Navy under the Deep Blue Project, was immediately alerted and is currently closing in on the distressed vessel.
“The crew have retreated to the Citadel in line with international best practice for ship security.
NIMASA is actively coordinating with the Nigerian Navy and other regional maritime security agencies to ensure the safety of the crew and to support ongoing investigations into the incident.
Commenting on the development, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency ’s commitment to regional maritime security cooperation, stating:
“NIMASA remains committed to strengthening security collaboration across the Gulf of Guinea to safeguard seafarers, deter criminal activity, and ensure safer maritime trade, leveraging on the Deep Blue Project.”
‘The ENDO PONENTE a moderate-risk Maltese-flagged chemical tanker generally operates across West, Central, and Southern African regions. Its last port call was at Kalamu, Democratic Republic of Congo”.
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy have moved to rescue a Malta-flagged chemical tanker, ENDO PONENTE, which was targeted by pirates for attack in the Gulf of Guinea territorial waters.
The vessel came under attempted attack on Thursday when the the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in a press statement by the Head of Public Relations, Edwards Osagie, said the agency received alert from the Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade (MDAT) Gulf of Guinea Watchkeepers.
The pirates were said to have attempted boarding the Malta-flagged chemical tanker, ENDO PONENTE, at position 05°10’N, 001°23’E, close to Lome Port, Togo.
Part of the press statement from NIMASA reads: “Intelligence gathered from the C4i Centre later placed the vessel at 04°19’16”N, 01°35’59”E, within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The NIMASA Special Mission Vessel DB Lagos, operated by the Nigerian Navy under the Deep Blue Project, was immediately alerted and is currently closing in on the distressed vessel.
“The crew have retreated to the Citadel in line with international best practice for ship security.
NIMASA is actively coordinating with the Nigerian Navy and other regional maritime security agencies to ensure the safety of the crew and to support ongoing investigations into the incident.
Commenting on the development, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency ’s commitment to regional maritime security cooperation, stating:
“NIMASA remains committed to strengthening security collaboration across the Gulf of Guinea to safeguard seafarers, deter criminal activity, and ensure safer maritime trade, leveraging on the Deep Blue Project.”
‘The ENDO PONENTE a moderate-risk Maltese-flagged chemical tanker generally operates across West, Central, and Southern African regions. Its last port call was at Kalamu, Democratic Republic of Congo”.
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