đź”— Share this article EU Maritime Forces Rescue Crew Following Somalia Piracy Incident on Vessel The Maltese-flagged tanker was seized by pirates on recently European Union naval forces have successfully rescued two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered petroleum vessel that was targeted by pirates off the shoreline of Somali waters. The Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying fuel from Indian ports to South Africa, was seized on Thursday when armed pirates opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the ship. All sailors secured themselves inside a secure safe room 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 the following day. Elite military units entered the vessel and discovered all 24 crew members unharmed. "The crew is secure and no harm have been reported. Throughout the ordeal, they remained in the citadel in direct contact with the operation," officials stated, noting that a "show of force" had convinced the pirates to abandon the vessel before the warship arrived. Continuing Danger Authorities added that the danger level in the area "continues to be serious" as the pirates are still in the area. The mission utilized a aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and reconnaissance plane. Shortly before, another ship in the identical region was targeted by a fast boat but managed to evade it. Resurgence of Piracy This event marks the latest in a series of attacks that have created concern about a resurgence of maritime crime in the region. Piracy operations had declined when global maritime security and protective protocols were implemented after peaking more than a decade ago. However, assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea, which have been conducted for the recent period, have caused vessels to be rerouted through the African coastline - creating new opportunities for local pirate groups. Statistical Overview Seven reported incidents of maritime crime took place off the coast of the Somali region in the previous year Three hijackings were documented among these events A single case of piracy was reported in 2023 Industry professionals are closely watching the developments as vessel operators navigate these potentially hazardous shipping lanes.