European Union Naval Forces Rescue Crew Following Somalia Pirate Attack on Vessel
European Union maritime units have safely freed two dozen crew members from a Maltese-flagged oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the shoreline of Somali waters.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying petrol from Indian ports to South Africa, was taken over on Thursday when heavily armed attackers opened fire with machine guns and explosive projectiles before taking control of the ship.
All sailors locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates assumed command of the marine transport.
Successful Rescue Operation
A naval vessel, operating under the EU's anti-piracy mission, arrived at the tanker on the following day. Elite military units entered the vessel and discovered all two dozen sailors unharmed.
"The crew is safe and no harm have been documented. Throughout the incident, they stayed in the citadel in constant communication with the operation," officials stated, noting that a "demonstration of power" had prompted the attackers to abandon the ship before the warship arrived.
Continuing Danger
Authorities emphasized that the danger level in the area "continues to be serious" as the pirates are still in the area.
The rescue operation involved a aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the same area was targeted by a small speedboat but managed to evade it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This event marks the latest in a series of incidents that have created concern about a resurgence of piracy in the area.
Such activity had decreased when global maritime security and protective protocols were introduced after peaking more than a decade ago.
Nevertheless, attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on vessels in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have caused vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - creating new possibilities for Somali gangs.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of maritime crime took place off the coast of the Somali region in the previous year
- Several vessel takeovers were recorded among these incidents
- A single case of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the situation as shipping companies travel through these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.
