European Union naval forces have rescued 24 crew members from the Maltese-flagged oil tanker Hellas Aphrodite after it was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The incident involved the Spanish warship ESPS Victoria, operating under the EU's anti-piracy mission Operation Atalanta.
Attack and Crew Response
The Hellas Aphrodite, transporting petrol from India to South Africa, was seized on Thursday. Armed individuals reportedly opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the vessel. The 24-member crew subsequently secured themselves within a fortified citadel on the ship.
Rescue Operation
On Friday afternoon, the ESPS Victoria reached the tanker. Special forces boarded the vessel and confirmed all crew members were unharmed, having remained in the citadel and maintained contact with Operation Atalanta throughout the incident. The EU mission stated that a "show of force" prompted the pirates to abandon the ship prior to the warship's arrival. The rescue operation utilized a helicopter, a drone, and surveillance aircraft. Hours before this event, another vessel in the same area reported evading an approach by a small speedboat.
Context of Piracy Resurgence
The incident is part of an increase in maritime attacks in the region, raising concerns about a potential resurgence of piracy. Piracy in this area had decreased following the introduction of international naval patrols and enhanced security measures over a decade ago. However, recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea have led some vessels to divert their routes through the Indian Ocean off East Africa. This shift has been identified as creating new opportunities for Somali pirate groups.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, there were seven reported piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia last year, including three hijackings. This marks an increase from the single incident reported in 2023.