🔗 Share this article European Union Naval Forces Free Crew After Somalia Piracy Incident on Oil Tanker The Hellas Aphrodite was seized by pirates on Thursday European Union maritime units have successfully rescued two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the shoreline of Somalia. The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting petrol from Indian ports to South Africa, was seized on the recent incident when armed pirates opened fire with automatic weapons and explosive projectiles before taking control of the ship. All sailors secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the marine transport. Mission Accomplished A naval vessel, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the ship on the following day. Elite military units boarded the craft and discovered all two dozen sailors unharmed. "All personnel is secure and no injuries have been documented. Throughout the incident, they stayed in the secure area in direct contact with command center," officials announced, noting that a "show of force" had convinced the pirates to abandon the vessel before the naval unit reached the location. Ongoing Threat Officials emphasized that the danger level in the area "remains critical" as the pirates are continue to be in the vicinity. The rescue operation involved a aircraft, drone and surveillance aircraft. Just hours earlier, another ship in the same area was approached by a small speedboat but managed to evade it. Resurgence of Piracy This event marks the latest in a spate of attacks that have raised alarms about a resurgence of piracy in the region. Such activity had declined when international naval patrols and protective protocols were implemented after reaching their highest point more than a decade ago. Nevertheless, assaults by militant groups on vessels in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have led vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - creating new possibilities for Somali gangs. Statistical Overview Seven reported incidents of piracy occurred off the shoreline of the Somali region last year Three hijackings were documented among these incidents Only one incident of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year Industry professionals continue to monitor the situation as vessel operators navigate these potentially hazardous waters.