EU Naval Forces Free Crew Following Somalia Pirate Attack on Vessel
EU naval forces have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged oil tanker that was targeted by sea robbers off the shoreline of Somali waters.
The vessel, which was transporting fuel from India to South African destinations, was taken over on Thursday when heavily armed attackers began shooting with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the vessel.
The crew secured 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, arrived at the ship on Friday afternoon. Special forces boarded the craft and discovered all 24 crew members unharmed.
"The crew is safe and no injuries have been reported. During the incident, they stayed in the citadel in constant communication with the operation," authorities stated, noting that a "show of force" had prompted the attackers to abandon the vessel before the warship reached the location.
Ongoing Threat
Officials added that the threat risk in the region "remains critical" as the armed groups are still in the vicinity.
The mission utilized a helicopter, drone and reconnaissance plane. 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 represents the latest in a spate of attacks that have raised alarms about a renewal of maritime crime in the region.
Piracy operations had declined when global maritime security and security measures were introduced after peaking more than a ten years past.
Nevertheless, assaults by militant groups on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the recent period, have caused ships to be diverted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - opening up new opportunities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Multiple piracy cases of maritime crime took place off the shoreline of Somalia in the previous year
- Three hijackings were recorded among these events
- Only one incident of piracy was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the situation as shipping companies travel through these increasingly dangerous waters.
