đź”— Share this article EU Maritime Forces Rescue Crew After Somalia Piracy Incident on Oil Tanker The Maltese-flagged tanker was seized by pirates on recently EU naval forces have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting fuel from India to South Africa, was seized on the recent incident when heavily armed attackers began shooting with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the vessel. All sailors locked themselves inside a secure safe room while the pirates assumed command of the ship. Mission Accomplished A naval vessel, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the ship on the following day. Elite military units boarded the craft and found all two dozen sailors safe and sound. "The crew is safe and no harm have been reported. During the incident, they stayed in the citadel in direct contact with command center," authorities announced, adding that a "demonstration of power" had prompted the attackers to leave the ship before the warship reached the location. Ongoing Threat Authorities added that the danger level in the area "remains critical" as the armed groups are continue to be in the area. The mission involved a aircraft, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the same area was targeted by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it. Return of Maritime Crime This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks that have created concern about a resurgence of maritime crime in the region. Such activity had decreased when international naval patrols and protective protocols were implemented after reaching their highest point more than a decade ago. However, assaults by militant groups on vessels in the Red Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have caused ships to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - creating new possibilities for local pirate groups. Statistical Overview Multiple piracy cases of piracy took place off the shoreline of Somalia last year Several vessel takeovers were documented among these incidents A single case of maritime crime was noted in 2023 Industry professionals continue to monitor the developments as shipping companies travel through these increasingly dangerous waters.