Pirates Attack Greek Tanker off Somalia, Crew Rescued Safely

The EU naval force rescued the Greek-operated tanker Hellas Aphrodite after pirates attacked it off Somalia. The 24 crew members were unharmed as the assailants fled following a show of force. A search for the attackers is underway. The incident follows two recent failed piracy attempts in the region.

The European Union’s anti-piracy naval force intervened on Friday to secure a merchant vessel that had come under attack off the coast of Somalia. The operation was launched after armed assailants targeted the ship, which was en route from India to South Africa with 24 crew members aboard.

According to a statement released by the EU Naval Force, the merchant tanker—identified as the Hellas Aphrodite and operated by the Greek shipping firm Latsco Marine Management—was attacked on Thursday. The pirates eventually abandoned the vessel after what officials described as an “early show of force” by the naval force. The intervention prevented the hijacking and ensured the safety of everyone on board.

“The crew, composed of 24 people, is safe and no injuries have been reported,” the EU Naval Force confirmed. This swift response underscores the continuing vigilance of international maritime forces operating in one of the world’s most historically dangerous waters for commercial shipping.

Somalia, located along a critical maritime route linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, was once a global hotspot for piracy. Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, Somali pirates terrorized commercial vessels, hijacking ships and demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms. However, a combination of international naval patrols, tighter ship security measures, and onshore anti-piracy initiatives have dramatically reduced such incidents over the past decade. Still, occasional attacks such as this one serve as a reminder that the threat has not been completely eradicated.

An intense search operation for the perpetrators is now underway, with naval surveillance assets combing the area where the pirates are believed to still be hiding. The EU Naval Force said that if the assailants are captured, they will face legal prosecution under international law.

Prior to the EU’s intervention, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre had reported that the Hellas Aphrodite was approached from the stern by a small vessel. There were no private security guards on board the tanker at the time, a fact confirmed by Lloyd’s List, a prominent maritime news agency. The absence of onboard security may have made the vessel a more vulnerable target for the attackers.

This latest incident comes amid a slight uptick in reported pirate activity in the waters off Somalia. Just days earlier, a group of four armed men attempted to seize another merchant vessel, the MV Stolt Sagaland, off the Somali coast. According to a bulletin from the French Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center (MICA), the attempted hijacking took place on Monday but was ultimately unsuccessful.

In a separate occurrence the day before, another small boat approached a fishing vessel, the FV Intertuna Tres. However, the suspected pirates quickly retreated when the ship’s crew activated the vessel’s sirens, effectively deterring the attack. MICA reported both incidents, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high alertness for all ships navigating the region.

The renewed attempts highlight the continuing need for coordinated maritime security operations and vigilance among commercial vessels traversing the Horn of Africa region. While piracy in Somali waters has declined significantly from its peak, the latest string of incidents demonstrates that criminal groups operating along the coast still pose a threat to international shipping and global trade routes.