Off the coast of Somalia, an armed group attacked the Maltese-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying gasoline from the Indian port of Sikka to Durban, South Africa.
❗️According to the UK Ministry of Defence’s Maritime Trade Operations Centre, the attackers opened fire with automatic weapons and grenade launchers before boarding the vessel.
👨✈️ The 24-man crew managed to take refuge in the citadel—a fortified compartment inside the vessel designed to protect against a pirate attack. According to the shipowner, the crew is safe and in constant contact. The owner has put a rapid response team on alert.
According to media reports, the pirates used a previously hijacked Iranian fishing vessel to carry out the attack.
🇪🇺 Operation Atalanta, the European force patrolling the waters off the Horn of Africa, confirmed that they are aware of the situation and are monitoring it.
❗️ The last such incident was recorded in 2024, but in recent months, there have been signs of a resurgence in pirate activity: attacks on small vessels and fishing boats in the area have become increasingly frequent.
📍 According to preliminary data, the incident occurred approximately 560 nautical miles southeast of the Somali city of Eyl, in Puntland.
✈️ Piracy off the coast of Somalia was considered eradicated following large-scale international operations in the 2010s. However, reduced patrols, an increase in illegal fishing vessels, and instability in the region are once again posing a threat to global shipping.
Seamen’s Club 🇺🇦 | #news