A ship was reportedly attacked off the coast of Somalia when assailants fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the vessel. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an alert indicating the incident occurred approximately 560 nautical miles southeast of the Somali town of Eyl.
Private security firm Ambrey suggested that the attackers were likely Somali pirates, who have shown increased activity in the region in recent days. The Greek shipping company Latsco Marine Management confirmed the attack, stating that all 24 crew members on board were safe and accounted for, and that they remain in constant contact with them.
According to UKMTO’s statement, the vessel’s captain reported that a small craft approached from the stern and opened fire. The attack on the Malta-registered ship, identified as the Hellas Aphrodite, occurred around 11:48 local time (08:48 GMT). The tanker was reportedly transporting gasoline and was en route from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa.
Latsco Marine Management has activated its emergency response team and is working with relevant authorities to ensure the ongoing safety of the crew. This incident occurs in the context of a resurgence of piracy in the region, which had significantly declined after peaking over a decade ago. Reports from the International Maritime Bureau indicate that there were at least seven reported piracy incidents last year, and several fishing vessels have already been seized by pirates this year.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg51nzrdyr6o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss