Attackers boarded a commercial vessel off Somalia’s coast on Thursday, reigniting fears of a resurgence in piracy across the volatile Horn of Africa.
The ship, Hellas Aphrodite, operated by Greece’s Latsco Marine Management, was travelling from India to South Africa when armed assailants struck near midday.
“All 24 crew are safe and accounted for,” the company said, declining further details for security reasons.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre reported that the attackers approached from the stern, firing small arms and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding.
Authorities are investigating the incident, while the European Union’s anti-piracy naval force said it was near the scene and ready to respond.
Maritime sources said there was no security team aboard the vessel during the attack, which followed two similar incidents earlier in the week.
On Monday, armed men attempted to seize the MV Stolt Sagaland tanker but were repelled after an exchange of fire, according to the French Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center.
A day earlier, a small craft approached the FV Intertuna Tres, retreating after the crew raised an alarm.
Security firm Ambrey warned that a “Somali Pirate Action Group” was active along the coast, allegedly using a hijacked vessel as a mothership to extend operations into the Indian Ocean.
Timothy Walker, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, said the current threat “has not been this high since 2013.”
He noted that the end of the monsoon season allows smaller boats to travel farther from shore, reviving opportunities for hostage-taking and ransom.
Years of calm may now be giving way to a dangerous new chapter in one of the world’s most treacherous waters.