European Union Maritime Forces Free Crew After Somali Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker
EU maritime units have safely freed 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged petroleum vessel that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting petrol from India to South Africa, was seized on the recent incident when heavily armed attackers began shooting with machine guns and explosive projectiles before boarding the vessel.
The crew locked themselves inside a secure safe room while the attackers took control of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A naval vessel, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the ship on the following day. Elite military units entered the vessel and discovered all 24 crew members safe and sound.
"The crew is secure and no injuries have been reported. Throughout the ordeal, they remained in the secure area in constant communication with the operation," officials stated, adding that a "show of force" had convinced the attackers to leave the ship before the naval unit arrived.
Ongoing Threat
Authorities added that the danger level in the region "remains critical" as the armed groups are continue to be in the vicinity.
The mission involved a aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and surveillance aircraft. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the identical region was targeted by a fast boat but successfully avoided it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This event marks the latest in a spate of incidents that have raised alarms about a renewal of piracy in the area.
Such activity had declined when international naval patrols and security measures were introduced after reaching their highest point more than a decade ago.
Nevertheless, attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have led ships to be diverted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - opening up new possibilities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Multiple piracy cases of maritime crime took place off the shoreline of Somalia in the previous year
- Three hijackings were recorded among these incidents
- A single case of piracy was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the situation as shipping companies navigate these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.
