MSB - 01/2026 - Report of Piracy Activity in the Gulf of Guinea

February 9, 2026

MARINE SECURITY BULLETIN – 01/2026

Subject: Report of Piracy Activity in the Gulf of Guinea

Reference:

1. Best Management Practices for Maritime Security (BMPMS)
2. Marine Security Advisory 03/2023 (c) Best Management Practices West Africa

Dear Owners/Operators/Company Security Officers/Masters:

A recent report indicates a Pirate Action Group operating offshore Gabon. The threat area was described as “between the coasts of Nigeria and Gabon”. In an effort to prevent further incidents and possible danger to crewmembers and vessels, the Registry strongly recommends masters, operators and shipowners to continue to follow the methods put forth in the Best Management Practices for Maritime Security (BMPMS) regarding defending against piracy attempts to include considering the use of private maritime security companies onboard the vessels, maintaining a vigilant watch and reporting any suspicious activity.

All Owners, operators and Masters of Liberian flagged ships operating in or through the Gulf of Guinea Voluntary Reporting Area should transit with extreme caution and vigilance. For the security of human life at sea, when transiting the Gulf of Guinea and the waters near West Africa including coastal areas of the thirteen countries listed on the IMB report, all Liberian flagged vessels shall operate at security level II, continue to implement procedures in their approved Ship Security plan and be on the lookout for possible sightings of vessels engaged in piracy, or suspected to have engaged in piracy activities.

Owners, operators and Masters are urged to register with Maritime Domain Awareness for TradeGulf of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) upon their vessel entering its voluntary reporting area and to report suspicious activity and incidents of piracy and armed robbery in a timely manner by contacting the MDAT-GoG by phone at +33 (02) 98 22 88 88, or by email to watchkeepers@mdat-gog.org.

All details for registration and reporting when operating in the Gulf of Guinea Voluntary Reporting Area are contained on UKHO security chart Q 6114 and CS Carte de sûreté maritime 8801. As further, Owners, operators and Masters are encouraged to visit the new MDATGoG website at https://gog-mdat.org for more information.

Best Management Practices MS bmp-ms-2025-final-low-res.pdf) will continue to provide the necessary guidance for shipping to ensure threat and risk assessments are developed for every voyage to mitigate the risks presented by remaining security threats in the region. The shipping industry will continue to monitor and advise on maritime security threats to assist the safe transit of vessels and the seafarers.

The Liberian Administration strongly recommends that Vessels Owners, Characters, Operators and Ships Masters continue to carry out pre-voyage threat and risk assessments to consider the latest maritime security information from organizations supporting the VRA, including use of privately contracted security personnel, as deemed necessary.

Owners, operators and Masters of vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea are urged to also report incidents of piracy and armed robbery or threats thereof and suspicious activity to:

1. the nearest RCC,
2. (ii) the flag State – Email: security@liscr.com; Phone: + 1 703 251-2490, ask for Maritime Security; AOH Phone: + 1 703 963 6216 to contact the Duty Officer; AOH Email:

dutyofficer@liscr.com

1. (iii) the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre - by phone +60 3 2031 0014 or by email to:

imbkl@icc- ccs.org.

Please keep LISCR’s Security Department informed of any security incidents at:

Office of the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs

Republic of Liberia

22980 Indian Creek Drive, Suite 200, Dulles, Virginia 20166 USA

D: +1 571 495 5944 / O: +1 703 790 3434 / F: +1 703 790 5655

Email: Security@liscr.com www.liscr.com

* * * * *