European Union Naval Forces Rescue Sailors Following Somalia Pirate Attack on Vessel
EU maritime units have safely freed two dozen crew members from a Maltese-flagged oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The vessel, which was transporting fuel from India to South Africa, was taken over on Thursday when heavily armed attackers opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the ship.
The crew secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A naval vessel, operating under the EU's anti-piracy mission, arrived at the tanker on Friday afternoon. Special forces entered the craft and found all 24 crew members unharmed.
"All personnel is safe and no injuries have been reported. During the incident, they stayed in the secure area in direct contact with command center," officials announced, adding that a "show of force" had convinced the pirates to leave the ship before the naval unit arrived.
Ongoing Threat
Authorities emphasized that the threat risk in the area "remains critical" as the pirates are continue to be in the area.
The rescue operation 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 raised alarms about a resurgence of maritime crime in the region.
Such activity had declined when global maritime security and protective protocols were introduced after peaking more than a decade ago.
However, assaults by militant groups on vessels in the Red Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have caused ships to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - opening up new possibilities for Somali gangs.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of maritime crime occurred off the coast of Somalia last year
- Three hijackings were documented among these incidents
- Only one incident of piracy was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the developments as shipping companies travel through these potentially hazardous waters.
