In a significant maritime operation, the European Union and Indian navies successfully intercepted a pirate-controlled vessel off the coast of Somalia. The Iranian fishing ship, Issamohamadi, had been repurposed by pirates as a ‘mother ship’ to facilitate a series of attacks, culminating in the seizure of the Malta-flagged tanker, Hellas Aphrodite. The tanker was en route from India to South Africa with a cargo of gasoline when it was hijacked last week. The EU naval force, Operation Atalanta, confirmed that the Issamohamadi had been abandoned by the pirates and was boarded by a team from the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria. The original crew of the dhow was found in good health and freed. The EU force stated that the pirate group operating in the area has been ‘definitely disrupted,’ and evidence collected will be used to prosecute the perpetrators. Somali piracy, which peaked in 2011 with 237 attacks, had diminished due to international naval patrols and a stronger Somali government. However, pirate activity has resurged recently, partly due to instability caused by Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea. In 2024, there have been seven reported incidents off Somalia, with the Hellas Aphrodite being the first commercial ship seized since May 2024.
European Union and Indian navies take over ship used by pirates off Somalia to seize tanker
