HELLAS APHRODITE
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Tanker freed by Spanish frigate
The 'Hellas Aphrodite' was freed on Nov 7 at 2.30 p.m., more than 24 hours after the vessel was boarded by pirates off the coast of Somalia in pos. 02°05 N 057°10 E, approximately 560 nautical miles southeast of Eyl and 700 nautical miles off Mogadishu. The 24 crew members, among them the Montenegrin captain, five Greeks and, 18 Filipinos, who had all retreated to the citadel, were safe, having been able to remain in the vessel’s citadel. The Spanish frigate ESPS 'Victoria - F 82' was standing by the tanker as it prepared to get back underway to Durban. The vessel had been boarded on Nov 6 at 8.30 a.m. The master reported small arms fire and that the pirates had launched RPGs towards the tanker, which had no guards on board and was loaded with gasoline. The EU forces monitoring the region deployed the 'Victoria', which was on patrol in the area, to the scene. The 'Victoria' was engaging its helicopter, uncrewed aerial vehicle, reconnaissance aircraft, and its Special Operations team. After an early show of force, the Pirate Action Group abandoned the tanker and fled in skiffs toward the suspected mother dhow. A full search confirmed that no pirates had remained aboard and all crew were unharmed and exited the citadel safely. Atalanta coordinated a combined effort that involved the authorities in the Putland region in Somalia, where the pirates wrre likely from, as well as a Japanese P3C aircraft, a Seychelles maritime reconnaissance patrol aircraft, and the Spanish Joint Operations Command. Atalanta remained in contact with the crew during the incident and was in contact with the vessel’s flag state and owner as the incident unfolded. The tanker finally arrived off Durban on Nov 17 and entered the port on Nov 25. It sailed again on Nov 28, next headed to the port of Dubai with an ETA as of Dec 15. Report with photos: https://eunavfor.eu/news/operation-atalanta-liberates-merchant-tanker-hellas-aphrodite
EUNAVFOR seized dhow used as mothership in hijacking
European naval forces have taken control of the Iranian-flagged dhow 'Issamohamadi', which had been used as a mother ship in the hijacking of the 'Hellas Aphrodite', thus, marking a significant victory in the ongoing effort to disrupt piracy operations in the Western Indian Ocean. The dhow, which had been abandoned by alleged pirates on Somalia’s northwestern coast, was closely tracked and monitored by the operation’s flagship, the ESPS 'Victoria', working in coordination with an Indian Navy warship. The Pirate Action Group operating in the area has been definitely disrupted, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA announced, emphasizing the operation’s success in neutralizing the immediate threat. Once aboard the dhow, ATALANTA forces conducted comprehensive verifications and searches to ensure crew security. A medical team examined the crew members and confirmed that they were in good condition, safe and free. The operation has also yielded critical intelligence for legal proceedings. The ATALANTA forces on board the dhow have gathered evidence and intelligence of the incident that together with the evidence collected on board the 'Hellas Aphrodite' will be submitted to support the legal prosecution of the perpetrators. The operation continued in cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland Federal Government to locate and apprehend the alleged pirates. The coordinated counter-piracy effort involved multiple assets and international partners. The ATALANTA flagship ESPS 'Victoria' deployed its helicopter, Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, and a Special Operations Unit, while the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft VIGMA D4 provided aerial support. The operation also included an Indian Navy warship, a Japanese Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft P3C from the Combined Maritime Forces, the Seychellois Air Force, and Somali authorities. The incident represented the culmination of an eight-day campaign by the pirate group, which previously targeted the 'Stolt Aphrodite' on Nov 3 and the purse seiner 'Intertuna Tres' on Nov 2. The Iranian dhow, reported to be hijacked on Oct 28, was used as the mother vessel for the multiple attacks. The 'Issamohamadi' was not transmitting AIS signals. In light of the continuing threat, Operation ATALANTA strongly recommended merchant and other vulnerable vessels to register in the MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS), to provide the most effective monitoring and response by ATALANTA forces and their partners in countering maritime security threats in the Western Indian Ocean. Report with photos: https://eunavfor.eu/news/atalanta-takes-control-dhow-involved-hellas-aphrodite-piracy-incident
Hunt for Pirate Action Group after liberation of tanker
The Indian Navy and European Union naval forces have launched an intensive maritime surveillance operation to track a Somali pirate action group responsible for a series of attacks in the Indian Ocean, including the hijacking of the 'Hellas Aphrodite'. The Pirate Action Group (PAG) linked to recent incidents was being monitored closely by the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA. There was currently no threat from this group to merchant vessels. European naval forces had successfully liberated the tanker following a 30-hour ordeal approximately 700 nautical miles off Mogadishu. All 24 crew members emerged unharmed after taking refuge in the vessel’s citadel during the attack by pirates armed with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rescue showcased international coordination, with the Spanish flagship ESPS 'Victoria' deploying helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, maritime patrol aircraft, and a Special Operations Team. Support came from Puntland authorities, Combined Maritime Forces Japanese P3C aircraft, Seychelles Maritime Reconnaissance Patrol Aircraft, and Spanish Joint Operations Command. After the show of force, the Pirate Action Group abandoned the vessel. However, the mother ship and the pirates remained in the area, and a coordinated joint operation is ongoing to intercept the dhow used in the attack. The threat assessment in the area surrounding the incident remained critical, and vessels were urted to exercise extreme caution when transiting the region. Evidence is being gathered to support potential legal prosecution of the alleged pirates, with ATALANTA and its maritime security partners continuing the intensive search for the Pirate Action Group. Within an eight-day campaign, the same pirate groupalso targeted the 'Stolt Aphrodite' on Nov 3 and the fishing vessel 'Intertuna Tres' on Nov 2. The 'Stolt Sagaland' successfully repelled an attack approximately 330 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, when armed security personnel fired warning shots at four unauthorized persons attempting to board. On Nov 7, the Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier 'Al Thumama' reported an approach by a small craft with three people aboard near where the 'Hellas Aphrodite' was targeted. The tanker, sailng from Qatar to Poland via the Cape of Good Hope, successfully outran the speedboat. The pattern that began in November 2023 with a series of dhow hijackings, coinciding with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region. The Operation ATALANTA documented dozens of incidents in the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden in 2024, including four merchant vessel boardings and two notable hijackings: the 'Ruen', which was held for three months before being rescued by the Indian Navy, and the 'Abdullah', released after a month reportedly following a large ransom payment. January 2025 saw the hijacking of a Chinese fishing vessel off Somalia’s northeastern Puntland coast. Operation ATALANTA strongly recommendrf that merchant and other vulnerable vessels register in the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean’s Voluntary Registration Scheme to enable the most effective monitoring and response by ATALANTA forces and their partners in countering maritime security threats. Maritime authorities had previously advised vessels to avoid a 100-nautical-mile radius from attack locations where pirate action groups are considered active.
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