đź”— Share this article European Union Maritime Forces Free Sailors Following Somalia Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker The Hellas Aphrodite was seized by pirates on Thursday EU maritime units have safely freed 24 sailors from a Malta-registered petroleum vessel that was targeted by pirates off the shoreline of Somali waters. The Hellas Aphrodite, which was transporting petrol from India to South African destinations, was seized on the recent incident when heavily armed attackers opened fire with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the ship. All sailors locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the pirates took control of the ship. Mission Accomplished A Spanish warship, operating under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the tanker on the following day. Special forces entered the craft and found all 24 crew members unharmed. "All personnel is secure and no harm have been documented. During the incident, they remained in the citadel in direct contact with command center," authorities announced, adding that a "show of force" had prompted the pirates to leave the ship before the warship arrived. Ongoing Threat Authorities added that the danger level in the area "remains critical" as the armed groups are still in the area. The rescue operation involved a helicopter, drone and surveillance aircraft. Just hours earlier, another ship in the identical region was targeted by a fast boat but managed to evade it. Return of Maritime Crime This incident marks the latest in a series of incidents that have created concern about a resurgence of piracy in the region. Such activity had declined when international naval patrols and security measures were implemented after peaking more than a ten years past. Nevertheless, attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the past two years, have caused ships to be diverted through the African coastline - opening up new opportunities for Somali gangs. Statistical Overview Seven reported incidents of maritime crime occurred off the coast of Somalia last year Several vessel takeovers were documented among these events A single case of maritime crime was noted in the preceding year Maritime security experts continue to monitor the situation as shipping companies travel through these potentially hazardous waters.