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European Union naval forces have safely freed two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was targeted by pirates off the coast of Somali waters.

The Hellas Aphrodite, which was carrying petrol from Indian ports to South Africa, was seized on Thursday when heavily armed attackers began shooting with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before taking control of the vessel.

All sailors locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the attackers assumed command of the ship.

Successful Rescue Operation

A naval vessel, functioning under the European Union's maritime security operation, reached the tanker on Friday afternoon. Elite military units boarded the vessel and found all 24 crew members unharmed.

"All personnel is secure and no injuries have been documented. Throughout the ordeal, they remained in the citadel in constant communication with command center," officials stated, noting that a "demonstration of power" had convinced the pirates to leave the vessel before the naval unit reached the location.

Continuing Danger

Authorities added that the threat risk in the region "continues to be serious" as the pirates are still in the vicinity.

The mission involved a aircraft, drone and reconnaissance plane. Just hours earlier, a different vessel in the same area was approached by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it.

Return of Maritime Crime

This incident represents the latest in a series of attacks that have created concern about a renewal of piracy in the area.

Piracy operations had declined when international naval patrols and security measures were implemented after peaking more than a ten years past.

However, attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on vessels in the Arabian Sea, which have been carried out for the recent period, have led ships to be diverted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - creating new opportunities for local pirate groups.

Incident Data

• Seven reported incidents of maritime crime occurred off the shoreline of Somalia last year
• Three hijackings were recorded among these incidents
• Only one incident of piracy was noted in the preceding year

Industry professionals are closely watching the situation as vessel operators travel through these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.