EU Maritime Forces Free Crew Following Somalia Piracy Incident on Oil Tanker
EU maritime units have safely freed two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the shoreline of Somalia.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying petrol from India to South Africa, was seized on Thursday when armed pirates opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the ship.
All sailors secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates assumed command of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A Spanish warship, functioning under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the tanker on the following day. Elite military units entered the vessel and discovered all two dozen sailors unharmed.
"All personnel is safe and no harm have been reported. Throughout the incident, they stayed in the secure area in direct contact with command center," officials stated, adding that a "show of force" had prompted the attackers to leave the ship before the naval unit reached the location.
Ongoing Threat
Authorities added that the danger level in the region "remains critical" as the pirates are continue to be in the area.
The rescue operation utilized a helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle and surveillance aircraft. Shortly before, a different vessel in the same area was approached by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This incident marks the most recent in a spate of incidents that have raised alarms about a renewal of maritime crime in the region.
Piracy operations had decreased when global maritime security and protective protocols were implemented after reaching their highest point more than a ten years past.
However, attacks by militant groups on ships in the Red Sea, which have been carried out for the past two years, have caused vessels to be diverted through the African coastline - creating new opportunities for Somali gangs.
Incident Data
- Multiple piracy cases of piracy took place off the shoreline of Somalia last year
- Three hijackings were recorded among these events
- Only one incident of maritime crime was reported in 2023
Industry professionals continue to monitor the developments as vessel operators travel through these potentially hazardous shipping lanes.
