EU Naval Forces Rescue Sailors After Somalia Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker
European Union naval forces have safely freed 24 sailors from a Maltese-flagged petroleum vessel that was attacked by sea robbers off the shoreline of Somali waters.
The vessel, which was transporting fuel from Indian ports to South African destinations, was seized on Thursday when heavily armed attackers opened fire with automatic weapons and explosive projectiles before boarding the vessel.
The crew secured themselves inside a secure safe room while the pirates assumed command of the ship.
Mission Accomplished
A Spanish warship, operating under the EU's anti-piracy mission, arrived at the tanker on Friday afternoon. Special forces boarded the vessel and discovered all two dozen sailors safe and sound.
"All personnel is safe and no injuries have been reported. During the incident, they remained in the citadel in constant communication with command center," officials announced, noting that a "show of force" had prompted the pirates to leave the vessel before the warship reached the location.
Ongoing Threat
Officials emphasized that the danger level in the region "remains critical" as the armed groups are continue to be in the vicinity.
The mission involved a helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the identical region was approached by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it.
Return of Maritime Crime
This event marks the most recent in a spate of incidents that have raised alarms about a resurgence of piracy in the region.
Piracy operations had decreased when global maritime security and protective protocols were implemented after peaking more than a ten years past.
However, attacks by militant groups on vessels in the Red Sea, which have been conducted for the recent period, have caused vessels to be diverted through the African coastline - opening up new possibilities for local pirate groups.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of maritime crime occurred off the coast of Somalia in the previous year
- Three hijackings were documented among these incidents
- Only one incident of piracy was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as shipping companies navigate these potentially hazardous shipping lanes.
