On November 7, 2025, the waters off Somalia—long infamous for piracy—witnessed a dramatic intervention as European Union and Indian naval forces took decisive action against a pirate "mother ship" used in the recent seizure of a commercial tanker. According to the Associated Press and statements from the EU's Operation Atalanta, a team from the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria boarded the Iranian fishing vessel Issamohamadi, which pirates had used to launch a series of assaults, culminating in the capture of the Malta-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite.
The Hellas Aphrodite, at the center of this high-seas drama, had been carrying a valuable cargo of gasoline from India to South Africa when it was seized last week. The pirates’ method was chillingly familiar: they commandeered the Issamohamadi, a traditional dhow, transforming it into a mobile staging ground for their operations. After the successful hijacking of the tanker, the pirates abandoned the Issamohamadi off the Somali coast, leaving its original 24-strong crew behind.
When the EU and Indian forces boarded the dhow, the crew was found in "good condition, safe and free"—a rare bit of good news in a region where such encounters can end much worse. Iran, notably, has not officially acknowledged the seizure of the Issamohamadi or commented on the fate of its crew, adding a layer of diplomatic silence to the already tense situation.
EU officials were quick to frame the operation as a significant blow to piracy in the area. "The pirate group operating in the area has been definitely disrupted," Operation Atalanta declared in a statement, as reported by the Associated Press. The operation’s success was not just about freeing the crew or retaking a ship; it also yielded crucial evidence. EU forces "have gathered evidence and intelligence of the incident that together with the evidence collected on board Merchant Tanker Hellas Aphrodite, will be submitted to support the legal prosecution of the perpetrators," Operation Atalanta said.
This latest episode has reignited global concerns about piracy off the coast of Somalia—a threat that had, until recently, been largely contained. Back in 2011, Somali piracy was at its peak, with a staggering 237 attacks reported in a single year. According to Oceans Beyond Piracy, these attacks cost the world’s economy an estimated $7 billion, with ransoms alone totaling $160 million. Such figures are almost hard to fathom, but they underscore the scale of the crisis that once gripped these waters.
The international community responded with robust naval patrols, and Somalia’s central government, bolstered by outside support, gradually asserted more control. For a while, piracy incidents dropped to a trickle, and many hoped the era of hijacked tankers and ransom negotiations was over. But the past year has seen a worrying uptick in attacks, and the reasons are complex.
One major factor cited by the International Maritime Bureau and other observers is the instability in the Red Sea corridor, fueled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Their attacks—sparked by the broader Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza—have created a climate of insecurity that pirates have been all too willing to exploit. The Houthis, for their part, have recently signaled a pause in their attacks as a fragile ceasefire takes hold in Gaza, but the ripple effects of their earlier actions are still being felt.
In 2024 alone, there were seven reported piracy incidents off Somalia, a sharp increase from previous years. Multiple fishing boats have already been seized by Somali pirates this year, and the capture of the Hellas Aphrodite marks the first successful hijacking of a commercial ship in the region since May 2024. For shipping companies and crews navigating these treacherous waters, the sense of unease is palpable.
What makes the Hellas Aphrodite incident particularly notable is the international response. The collaboration between the EU and Indian navies highlights the global nature of the problem—and the necessity for coordinated action. The presence of the ESPS Victoria, part of the EU’s long-running Operation Atalanta anti-piracy mission, was crucial. This operation, launched in 2008, has played a significant role in patrolling the Indian Ocean and deterring pirate attacks, but the recent surge in incidents is a stark reminder that the threat is far from eliminated.
For the crew of the Issamohamadi, the ordeal ended with relief rather than tragedy. Their safe recovery is a testament to the effectiveness of the naval intervention, but it also raises questions about the fate of the pirates themselves—and the broader legal and political challenges ahead. With evidence now gathered from both the dhow and the Hellas Aphrodite, EU officials are preparing for potential prosecutions. The hope is that bringing perpetrators to justice will help deter future attacks, but as history has shown, piracy is a symptom of deeper instability and economic hardship in the region.
Iran’s silence on the matter adds another layer of intrigue. The Issamohamadi, despite being an Iranian vessel, has not been publicly acknowledged by Tehran since its involvement in the incident. Whether this is a matter of diplomatic caution or simply bureaucratic inertia remains unclear, but it underscores the complicated web of interests and actors at play in these waters.
Looking back, the fight against Somali piracy has been a long and difficult one. The international naval presence, improved coordination, and efforts to support Somalia’s government have all contributed to past successes. Yet, as the events of November 2025 demonstrate, vigilance cannot wane. The pirates’ ability to adapt—using traditional dhows as mother ships, exploiting regional instability, and targeting vulnerable vessels—means that the threat is ever-evolving.
For now, the successful boarding of the Issamohamadi and the disruption of the pirate group offer a glimmer of hope. The safe recovery of the crew is a reminder of what’s at stake: the lives of seafarers, the stability of global trade routes, and the ongoing struggle to bring law and order to one of the world’s most dangerous maritime regions.
As the world watches for the next move—be it from pirates, navies, or regional powers—one thing is clear: the waters off Somalia remain as unpredictable and contested as ever, demanding constant attention from the international community.
