🔗 Share this article EU Maritime Forces Free Sailors Following Somalia Piracy Incident on Vessel The Hellas Aphrodite was captured by pirates on Thursday EU naval forces have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was attacked by sea robbers off the shoreline of Somali waters. The vessel, which was carrying fuel from Indian ports to South African destinations, was seized on the recent incident when armed pirates opened fire with machine guns and explosive projectiles before boarding the vessel. All sailors locked themselves inside a secure safe room while the attackers took control of the marine transport. Mission Accomplished A naval vessel, functioning under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the tanker on Friday afternoon. Elite military units entered the craft and discovered all two dozen sailors unharmed. "All personnel is safe and no harm have been reported. Throughout the ordeal, they stayed in the secure area in constant communication with command center," officials announced, noting that a "demonstration of power" had prompted the pirates to leave the ship before the warship arrived. Ongoing Threat Authorities emphasized that the danger level in the area "continues to be serious" as the armed groups are continue to be in the vicinity. The rescue operation utilized a helicopter, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the identical region was approached by a fast boat but successfully avoided it. Resurgence of Piracy This event marks the most recent in a spate of attacks that have created concern about a resurgence of maritime crime in the region. Such activity had declined when international naval patrols and security measures were introduced after peaking more than a decade ago. Nevertheless, assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on vessels in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have caused vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - creating new possibilities for Somali gangs. Incident Data Seven reported incidents of maritime crime took place off the shoreline of Somalia in the previous year Several vessel takeovers were recorded among these events A single case of maritime crime was noted in 2023 Industry professionals continue to monitor the situation as vessel operators navigate these potentially hazardous waters.