Mogadishu, Somalia – The European Union’s naval mission in the Indian Ocean has successfully rescued the crew of a Malta-flagged oil tanker, Hellas Aphrodite, after Somali pirates attempted to hijack the vessel roughly 1,000 kilometers off Somalia’s coast.
According to officials from Operation Atalanta—the EU’s long-running maritime security mission in the region—the incident unfolded when armed attackers approached the oil tanker in small skiffs, attempting to board it in international waters. The crew of 24 took refuge in the ship’s citadel, a fortified safe room designed to withstand such assaults, while distress signals were sent out.
Responding swiftly, the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria, which was patrolling nearby, was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, naval forces secured the vessel and confirmed that all crew members were unharmed. The pirates, realizing they had been cornered, reportedly fled the area before the EU forces reached the tanker.
The rescue highlights the persistent threat of piracy in the western Indian Ocean, even as regional and international counter-piracy efforts have significantly reduced attacks in recent years. Piracy off the Horn of Africa had sharply declined after peaking a decade ago, but the latest incident underscores the continuing volatility in the waters off Somalia’s vast coastline.
Operation Atalanta, launched in 2008, remains one of the EU’s key missions focused on ensuring the safety of global shipping routes, protecting humanitarian aid deliveries, and supporting regional stability. Its patrols involve multiple European nations contributing ships, aircraft, and personnel to deter and disrupt piracy networks.
Maritime experts have warned that ongoing instability in parts of Somalia, coupled with economic hardship in coastal areas, could fuel a resurgence of piracy unless coastal security and livelihoods improve.
For now, the Hellas Aphrodite and its crew are safe—thanks to a well-rehearsed emergency protocol, a timely distress alert, and the steady vigilance of international forces still standing guard over one of the world’s most strategic waterways.