EU Maritime Forces Rescue Crew After Somalia Piracy Incident on Vessel
EU maritime units have safely freed two dozen crew members from a Maltese-flagged oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
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 rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the vessel.
All sailors locked themselves inside a secure safe room while the attackers assumed command of the marine transport.
Successful Rescue Operation
A Spanish warship, functioning under the EU's anti-piracy mission, reached the ship on the following day. Special forces boarded the vessel and found all 24 crew members unharmed.
"All personnel is safe and no harm have been reported. During the incident, they remained in the citadel in constant communication with the operation," officials announced, adding that a "demonstration of power" had convinced the attackers to abandon the ship before the warship reached the location.
Continuing Danger
Officials emphasized that the threat risk in the region "continues to be serious" as the pirates are continue to be in the vicinity.
The rescue operation utilized a aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and reconnaissance plane. Shortly before, a different vessel in the identical region was targeted by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it.
Return of Maritime Crime
This incident marks the most recent in a series of attacks that have created concern about a renewal of piracy in the area.
Piracy operations had decreased when global maritime security and protective protocols were implemented after reaching their highest point more than a ten years past.
However, attacks by militant groups on vessels in the Red Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have led vessels to be diverted through the African coastline - opening up new possibilities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of piracy took place off the shoreline of the Somali region last year
- Several vessel takeovers were recorded among these incidents
- A single case of piracy was reported in the preceding year
Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as shipping companies navigate these potentially hazardous waters.
