European Union Maritime Forces Rescue Crew After Somalia Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker

European Union maritime units have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Malta-registered petroleum vessel that was targeted by sea robbers off the coast of Somalia.

The Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying petrol from India to South African destinations, was seized on Thursday when armed pirates began shooting with machine guns and explosive projectiles before taking control of the ship.

The crew locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the marine transport.

Mission Accomplished

A naval vessel, functioning under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the ship on the following day. Special forces boarded the craft and found all two dozen sailors unharmed.

"The crew is safe and no injuries have been reported. During the ordeal, they stayed in the citadel in constant communication with command center," authorities stated, adding that a "demonstration of power" had convinced the attackers to abandon the ship before the warship reached the location.

Ongoing Threat

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

The mission involved a helicopter, drone and surveillance aircraft. Just hours earlier, another ship in the same area was targeted by a fast boat but managed to evade it.

Resurgence of Piracy

This incident marks the latest in a spate of incidents that have created concern about a resurgence of piracy in the region.

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

Nevertheless, assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the past two years, have caused vessels to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - opening up new possibilities for local pirate groups.

Statistical Overview

• Multiple piracy cases of maritime crime occurred off the shoreline of Somalia last year
• Three hijackings were recorded among these incidents
• A single case of piracy was reported in the preceding year

Maritime security experts are closely watching the developments as shipping companies navigate these potentially hazardous waters.