European Union Maritime Forces Free Crew After Somali Piracy Incident on Oil Tanker
EU naval forces have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged petroleum vessel that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somali waters.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying petrol from India to South African destinations, was taken over on Thursday when armed pirates began shooting with machine guns and explosive projectiles before boarding the vessel.
All sailors locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates assumed command of the ship.
Successful Rescue Operation
A Spanish warship, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the tanker on the following day. Elite military units boarded the vessel and found all two dozen sailors unharmed.
"The crew is secure and no harm have been documented. During the ordeal, they stayed in the citadel in direct contact with the operation," authorities stated, adding that a "demonstration of power" had convinced the attackers to abandon the ship before the warship arrived.
Ongoing Threat
Officials added that the danger level in the region "continues to be serious" as the pirates are still in the vicinity.
The rescue operation utilized a helicopter, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, another ship in the same area was targeted by a small speedboat but managed to evade it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This incident marks the latest in a spate of incidents that have raised alarms about a resurgence of piracy in the area.
Such activity had decreased when international naval patrols and protective protocols were introduced after peaking more than a ten years past.
Nevertheless, attacks by militant groups on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have caused vessels to be diverted through the African coastline - opening up new possibilities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Multiple piracy cases of piracy occurred off the coast of the Somali region in the previous year
- Several vessel takeovers were documented among these events
- Only one incident of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the developments as shipping companies travel through these potentially hazardous waters.
