European Union Naval Forces Rescue Crew After Somali Pirate Attack on Vessel
European Union maritime units have safely freed 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 India to South Africa, was seized on the recent incident when armed pirates opened fire with machine guns and explosive projectiles before boarding the ship.
The crew secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the attackers assumed command of the marine transport.
Mission Accomplished
A Spanish warship, functioning under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the tanker on Friday afternoon. Elite military units entered the vessel and found all 24 crew members unharmed.
"The crew is safe and no injuries have been documented. Throughout the incident, they stayed in the citadel in direct contact 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 added that the danger level in the region "continues to be serious" as the armed groups are still in the vicinity.
The rescue operation involved a aircraft, drone and surveillance aircraft. Just hours earlier, another ship in the identical region was targeted by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This event marks the latest in a series of incidents that have raised alarms about a renewal of piracy in the region.
Such activity had declined when global maritime security and security measures were implemented after peaking more than a decade ago.
However, attacks by militant groups on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the past two years, have caused ships to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - creating new opportunities for Somali gangs.
Incident Data
- Multiple piracy cases of piracy occurred off the shoreline of Somalia last year
- Three hijackings were recorded among these events
- Only one incident of maritime crime was reported in the preceding year
Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as vessel operators travel through these potentially hazardous waters.
