EU Naval Forces Free Crew After Somalia Piracy Incident on Oil Tanker
EU naval forces have successfully rescued two dozen crew members from a Maltese-flagged petroleum vessel that was attacked by sea robbers off the coast of Somali waters.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting fuel from Indian ports to South African destinations, was taken over on Thursday when armed pirates opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the vessel.
All sailors secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A Spanish warship, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the tanker on Friday afternoon. Elite military units entered the vessel and discovered all 24 crew members unharmed.
"All personnel is secure and no injuries have been reported. During the ordeal, they remained in the citadel in constant communication with command center," officials announced, noting that a "show of force" had prompted the pirates to abandon the ship before the warship arrived.
Ongoing Threat
Officials emphasized that the threat risk in the region "remains critical" as the pirates are still in the area.
The rescue operation involved a aircraft, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, another ship in the identical region was targeted by a small speedboat but managed to evade it.
Return of Maritime Crime
This event represents the most recent in a spate of attacks that have created concern about a resurgence of piracy in the region.
Piracy operations had declined when global maritime security and security measures were introduced after peaking more than a decade ago.
Nevertheless, attacks by militant groups on vessels in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the recent period, have caused vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - creating new opportunities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of piracy occurred off the shoreline of Somalia in the previous year
- Several vessel takeovers were recorded among these events
- Only one incident of maritime crime was reported in 2023
Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as shipping companies travel through these potentially hazardous waters.
