🔗 Share this article European Union Maritime Forces Free Sailors After Somali Piracy Incident on Vessel The Hellas Aphrodite was captured by pirates on Thursday European Union naval forces have safely freed 24 sailors from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was attacked by sea robbers off the coast of Somali waters. The vessel, which was transporting fuel from India to South African destinations, was seized on Thursday when heavily armed attackers opened fire with machine guns and explosive projectiles before taking control of the vessel. The crew secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the marine transport. Successful Rescue Operation A Spanish warship, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the tanker on Friday afternoon. Special forces entered the vessel and found all two dozen sailors safe and sound. "The crew is safe and no injuries have been reported. During the ordeal, they stayed in the secure area in constant communication with the operation," authorities stated, noting that a "demonstration of power" had prompted the attackers to leave the ship before the warship arrived. Ongoing Threat Authorities emphasized that the threat risk in the region "remains critical" as the armed groups are continue to be in the area. The mission utilized a helicopter, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, another ship in the same area was targeted by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it. Resurgence of Piracy This incident represents the latest in a spate of attacks that have created concern about a resurgence of piracy in the region. Such activity had declined when international naval patrols and security measures were implemented after peaking more than a ten years past. Nevertheless, attacks by militant groups on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have led ships to be diverted through the African coastline - creating new opportunities for Somali gangs. Incident Data Seven reported incidents of piracy occurred off the shoreline of Somalia last year Three hijackings were documented among these incidents Only one incident of piracy was reported in 2023 Maritime security experts continue to monitor the situation as vessel operators navigate these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.