EU Naval Forces Free Crew After Somali Piracy Incident on Oil Tanker
EU maritime units have safely freed two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was targeted by sea robbers off the shoreline of Somalia.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting petrol from Indian ports to South African destinations, was taken over on the recent incident when armed pirates began shooting with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the ship.
All sailors locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A naval vessel, operating under the EU's anti-piracy mission, arrived at the tanker on the following day. Elite military units entered the craft and discovered all 24 crew members unharmed.
"All personnel is safe and no harm have been reported. During the incident, they stayed in the citadel in direct contact with the operation," authorities stated, noting that a "show of force" had convinced the pirates to leave the vessel before the naval unit arrived.
Ongoing Threat
Officials emphasized that the threat risk in the region "remains critical" as the armed groups are still in the vicinity.
The rescue operation utilized a aircraft, drone and reconnaissance plane. Shortly before, another ship in the identical region was targeted by a fast boat but successfully avoided it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This incident marks the most recent in a spate of incidents that have created concern about a renewal of maritime crime in the area.
Such activity had declined when international naval patrols and security measures were implemented after peaking more than a decade ago.
However, assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have led vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - creating new opportunities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Multiple piracy cases of piracy took place off the shoreline of Somalia in the previous year
- Three hijackings were recorded among these incidents
- Only one incident of piracy was noted in 2023
Industry professionals are closely watching the developments as shipping companies navigate these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.
