EU Naval Forces Rescue Crew Following Somalia Piracy Incident on Vessel
EU maritime units have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged oil tanker that was attacked by sea robbers off the shoreline of Somalia.
The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting petrol from India to South African destinations, was seized on the recent incident when heavily armed attackers began shooting with machine guns and explosive projectiles before taking control of the ship.
All sailors locked themselves inside a secure safe room while the pirates took control of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A naval vessel, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the ship on the following day. Special forces entered the vessel and discovered all two dozen sailors unharmed.
"All personnel is safe and no harm have been reported. Throughout the incident, they remained in the citadel in constant communication with command center," authorities stated, adding that a "show of force" had convinced the attackers to abandon the ship before the naval unit arrived.
Ongoing Threat
Officials emphasized that the threat risk in the region "continues to be serious" as the pirates are continue to be in the area.
The mission utilized a helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, another ship in the same area was targeted by a small speedboat but managed to evade it.
Return of Maritime Crime
This incident represents the most recent in a spate of incidents that have created concern about a renewal of maritime crime in the area.
Piracy operations had declined when international naval patrols and protective protocols were implemented after reaching their highest point more than a ten years past.
Nevertheless, assaults by militant groups on ships in the Red Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have caused vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - opening up new opportunities for Somali gangs.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of maritime crime occurred off the shoreline of Somalia last year
- Several vessel takeovers were recorded among these incidents
- Only one incident of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the developments as vessel operators navigate these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.
