🔗 Share this article EU Maritime Forces Free Sailors After Somali Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker The Maltese-flagged tanker was captured by armed attackers on recently EU maritime units have successfully rescued 24 sailors from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somali waters. The vessel, which was carrying fuel from India to South Africa, was seized on Thursday when armed pirates began shooting with automatic weapons 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. Mission Accomplished A naval vessel, functioning under the EU's anti-piracy mission, reached the tanker on Friday afternoon. Special forces boarded the vessel and found all 24 crew members unharmed. "All personnel is secure and no harm have been documented. Throughout the ordeal, they remained in the citadel in direct contact with command center," officials announced, adding that a "demonstration of power" had prompted the pirates to leave the vessel before the naval unit arrived. Continuing Danger Officials emphasized that the threat risk in the area "remains critical" as the pirates are still in the vicinity. The mission utilized a helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the identical region was targeted by a fast boat but managed to evade it. Return of Maritime Crime This event represents the most recent in a spate of incidents that have created concern about a renewal of piracy in the area. Such activity had decreased when global maritime security and security measures were implemented after reaching their highest point more than a ten years past. However, assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have caused ships to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - opening up new opportunities for local pirate groups. Incident Data Seven reported incidents of maritime crime took place off the coast of the Somali region last year Three hijackings were recorded among these incidents A single case of maritime crime was noted in 2023 Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as vessel operators travel through these potentially hazardous waters.