European naval forces rescued the Maltese-flagged tanker HELLAS APHRODITE on Friday afternoon after a dramatic 30-hour hijacking that took place about 700 nautical miles off the coast of Mogadishu. This incident reflects a worrying rise in Somali piracy in the region.
All 24 crew members were safe after hiding in the ship’s citadel during the hijacking, which began on the morning of November 6 when pirates armed with small weapons and rocket-propelled grenades attacked the vessel.
The rescue operation was carried out by a coalition of international forces under the command of Operation ATALANTA. The Spanish flagship ESPS VICTORIA used its helicopter, drones, maritime patrol aircraft, and a Special Operations Team to conduct the mission.
According to EUNAVFOR, “After an early show of force, the Pirate Action Group abandoned the Merchant Tanker.”
The operation received assistance from various international partners, including Puntland authorities and Combined Maritime Forces, with support from Japanese P3C aircraft, Seychelles Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and Spanish Joint Operations Command. Throughout the crisis, ATALANTA maintained continuous communication with the vessel's flag state, the company owner, and the crew members.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the successful outcome, stating, “Coalition forces are now onboard the vessel, and the crew have left the citadel, reported as safe and well.”
Pirates Still at Large
Despite the successful rescue, threats still exist in the area. EUNAVFOR warned that “the mother ship and the pirates remain nearby,” and a coordinated effort is ongoing to intercept the dhow used in this attack.
Maritime authorities emphasize that “the threat assessment in the area surrounding the incident remains critical,” urging vessels to proceed with caution.
Evidence is being collected to support the prosecution of the pirates if they are captured, as ATALANTA and its maritime security partners continue to search for the Pirate Action Group.
Pattern of Escalating Attacks
The hijacking of the HELLAS APHRODITE is the latest event in an eight-day series of attacks by the same pirate group, which previously targeted the Stolt Aphrodite on November 3 and the fishing vessel Intertuna Tres on November 2, according to Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group.
On November 3, the chemical tanker MV Stolt Sagaland successfully fended off a similar attack about 330 nautical miles east of Mogadishu when armed security personnel fired warning shots at four assailants trying to board. At that time, a mothership was spotted roughly 5 nautical miles away.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA reported it is “HIGHLY LIKELY” that an Iranian hijacked dhow, described as ISSAMOHAMADI, was used as the mother vessel for these attacks, as it was not transmitting AIS signals.
On Friday, a LNG carrier encountered a speedboat near the site where the HELLAS APHRODITE was attacked, as reported by maritime security firm Diaplous. The Marshall Islands-flagged Al Thumama reported being approached by a small craft carrying three individuals, but managed to outrun them while traveling from Ras Laffan, Qatar to Swinoujscie, Poland via the Cape of Good Hope.
Broader Piracy Resurgence
These incidents indicate a troubling trend that started in November 2023 with a series of hijackings, coinciding with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region. Pirates often use hijacked dhows as “mother ships” to carry out attacks hundreds of miles offshore in the Indian Ocean.
Operation ATALANTA has reported dozens of incidents in the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden in 2024, including four boardings of merchant vessels and two notable hijackings: the MV Ruen, which was held for three months before being rescued by the Indian Navy, and the MV Abdullah, released after a month reportedly following a large ransom payment. In January 2025, a Chinese fishing vessel was hijacked off the northeastern coast of Puntland.
The last successful rescue operation before this one took place in May 2024, when Operation ATALANTA freed the Liberian-flagged MV Basilisk with 17 crew members about 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, although no pirates were apprehended during that operation.
Maritime Security Recommendations
Operation ATALANTA strongly advises that merchant and other vulnerable vessels sign up for the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean’s Voluntary Registration Scheme to enable effective monitoring and response from ATALANTA forces and their partners in addressing maritime security threats.
Maritime authorities have urged vessels to avoid a 100-nautical-mile radius from areas where pirate activity is reported, stressing that “timely and thorough reporting of incidents and suspicious activity is crucial for rapid response.”