🔗 Share this article

European Union maritime units have safely freed 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged petroleum vessel that was targeted by sea robbers off the shoreline of Somalia.

The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting fuel from India to South Africa, was seized on the recent incident when armed pirates began shooting with machine guns and explosive projectiles before taking control of the ship.

All sailors secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the attackers took control of the marine transport.

Mission Accomplished

A naval vessel, functioning under the EU's anti-piracy mission, reached the ship on Friday afternoon. Elite military units boarded the vessel and discovered all two dozen sailors safe and sound.

"The crew is safe and no harm have been documented. During the incident, they remained in the secure area in constant communication with the operation," officials announced, adding that a "demonstration of power" had prompted the attackers to leave the vessel before the warship reached the location.

Ongoing Threat

Authorities added that the danger level in the area "remains critical" as the armed groups are still in the vicinity.

The mission involved a aircraft, drone and surveillance aircraft. Shortly before, another ship in the same area was targeted by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it.

Return of Maritime Crime

This event represents the most recent in a spate of incidents that have created concern about a renewal of maritime crime in the region.

Piracy operations had declined when international naval patrols and protective protocols were implemented after peaking more than a ten years past.

Nevertheless, assaults by militant groups on vessels in the Red Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have led ships to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - opening up new possibilities for local pirate groups.

Incident Data

• Seven reported incidents of piracy took place off the shoreline of the Somali region in the previous year
• Three hijackings were recorded among these events
• A single case of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year

Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as vessel operators navigate these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.