The ship, which belongs to the Greek company Latsco Marine Management and flies the Maltese flag, had sailed from the port of Sikka in India bound for Durban in South Africa, carrying a cargo of gasoline.
The announcement expresses concern that a resurgence of actions of this kind is now being recorded in the maritime area off the Horn of Africa. Somalia was once synonymous with pirate attacks aimed at extracting ransoms. However, no incident of this nature had been recorded for months.
“After an initial show of force,” the pirates “abandoned the commercial tanker,” the EU naval force noted in its announcement, clarifying that “the 24 crew members are safe” and there were “no” injuries.
The armed pirates attacked the Hellas Aphrodite, a tanker operated by the Greek company Latsco Marine Management Inc., as it was on a voyage from Sikka, in the Indian state of Gujarat, to Durban in South Africa, the morning before yesterday.
The naval force stated that it is conducting an investigation to locate the pirates, who continue to operate in the area, and that they will be brought to justice if arrested.
The British maritime security service UKMTO reported earlier that the Hellas Aphrodite, a 183-meter-long tanker, was approached from the stern by a small boat and that the individuals on board opened fire with light weapons and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers.
The attack was recorded three days after a failed attempt by pirates to board another tanker, the MV Stolt Sagaland, off the coast of Somalia.
Four armed individuals attempted to board the vessel, according to an information bulletin from the French Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness (MICA) Center. However, private security company personnel on the vessel repelled them, following an exchange of fire.
It is noted that yesterday all crew members of the Greek-owned tanker were released, following an operation by Spanish Naval Special Forces (SOF) carried out at noon on November 7th off the coast of Somalia.
According to the announcement from the European Union’s “EUNAVFOR Atalanta” operation, at 13:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the warship ESPS Victoria approached the tanker and a team of specially trained soldiers boarded it, releasing all 24 sailors who had been secured in the citadel since the moment of the attack.
As confirmed, all crew members—including five Greeks—are in good health, while the pirates have abandoned the ship.
The ESPS Victoria remains alongside the tanker to ensure the vessel’s safety and provide technical support, until the Hellas Aphrodite can continue its voyage under its own means.
With information from APE-MPE-AFP
