Eu Naval Forces Free Maltese Tanker After Somali Pirate Attack

European Union naval forces nether Operation Atalanta person successfully liberated nan Maltese-flagged merchant tanker Hellas Aphrodite aft it was hijacked by pirates disconnected nan seashore of Somalia connected November 6.

All 24 unit members are safe and unharmed aft taking refuge successful nan ship’s citadel during nan ordeal, which began nan erstwhile morning, astir 700 nautical miles from Mogadishu.

Somali pirates flee

According to nan European Union Naval Force, nan pirates abandoned nan alloy pursuing a coordinated show of unit involving nan Spanish warship ESPS Victoria, its helicopter, an uncrewed aerial conveyance (UAV), and a typical operations team. A Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft besides participated successful nan rescue. Operation Atalanta confirmed that each connection pinch nan emblem state, vessel owner, and unit members was maintained passim nan mission.

As BBC News reported, nan Hellas Aphrodite was transporting petrol from India to South Africa erstwhile equipped pirates opened occurrence pinch instrumentality guns and rocket-propelled grenades earlier boarding nan ship. The unit locked themselves successful nan fortified citadel and maintained power interaction pinch Atalanta office passim nan incident. It sounds for illustration a segment from nan movie Captain Phillips.

Piracy threat remains critical

The EU ngo warned that nan pirate action group (PAG) responsible remains progressive successful nan area. Naval forces are continuing efforts to intercept.

According to nan International Maritime Bureau, 7 piracy incidents were recorded disconnected Somalia successful 2024, including 3 hijackings. Experts person warned of a renewed consequence of piracy successful nan Indian Ocean arsenic shipping routes are diverted astir East Africa owed to Houthi rebel attacks successful nan Red Sea.

Operation Atalanta has urged merchant and susceptible vessels to registry pinch nan Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean nether its Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS), ensuring accelerated monitoring and consequence capabilities successful lawsuit of early threats.

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