European Union Naval Forces Free Sailors Following Somali Piracy Incident on Vessel
European Union maritime units have successfully rescued two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered petroleum vessel that was attacked by sea robbers off the coast of Somali waters.
The vessel, which was transporting fuel from India to South Africa, was taken over on Thursday when heavily armed attackers opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the vessel.
The crew locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the attackers assumed command of the ship.
Successful Rescue Operation
A Spanish warship, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, arrived at the ship on Friday afternoon. Elite military units boarded the craft and found all 24 crew members unharmed.
"The crew is secure and no harm have been documented. During the ordeal, they remained in the citadel in constant communication with command center," authorities stated, noting that a "show of force" had prompted the attackers to abandon the ship before the naval unit reached the location.
Continuing Danger
Officials emphasized that the danger level in the area "remains critical" as the pirates are continue to be in the vicinity.
The rescue operation utilized a helicopter, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, another ship in the identical region was targeted by a fast boat but managed to evade it.
Resurgence of Piracy
This incident represents the latest in a series of attacks that have created concern about a renewal of piracy in the region.
Piracy operations had decreased when global maritime security and protective protocols were implemented after peaking more than a decade ago.
However, 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 possibilities for Somali gangs.
Incident Data
- Seven reported incidents of piracy took place off the coast of Somalia in the previous year
- Three hijackings were recorded among these incidents
- A single case of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year
Maritime security experts are closely watching the developments as vessel operators travel through these potentially hazardous shipping lanes.
