In a dramatic turn of events on the high seas, the Malta-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite was freed by European Union naval forces after being hijacked by Somali pirates, marking a stark reminder of the persistent dangers in one of the world’s most notorious maritime regions. The rescue, which unfolded over 30 tense hours and ended on November 7, 2025, saw all 24 crew members emerge unharmed, thanks to swift international coordination and decisive action.
The ordeal began early on November 6, 2025, when pirates armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades stormed the Hellas Aphrodite as it made its journey from India to South Africa, some 700 nautical miles off the coast of Mogadishu. According to Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s anti-piracy mission, the crew quickly locked themselves inside the vessel’s fortified citadel, a secure area designed for just such emergencies. For more than a day, the mariners remained barricaded, awaiting help as the pirates roamed the decks above.
The rescue operation was a showcase of modern naval coordination and technology. The Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria, flagship of the EU mission, arrived at the scene with an arsenal of support: a helicopter, an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle, Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, and a Special Operations Team. The Associated Press reported that the Victoria’s "early show of force"—a combination of visible military might and aerial surveillance—prompted the pirates to abandon the tanker and flee into the vast Indian Ocean.
Operation Atalanta didn’t act alone. The rescue drew support from a coalition of partners, including Puntland authorities, Japanese P3C aircraft from the Combined Maritime Forces, Seychelles Maritime Reconnaissance Patrol Aircraft, and Spain’s Joint Operations Command. Throughout the crisis, the EU maintained constant communication with the vessel’s flag state, its owner, and the crew, ensuring a coordinated response at every turn.
After the operation, the UK Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the best possible outcome: "Coalition forces are now onboard vessel and crew have left the citadel, reported as safe and well." Tracking data reviewed by The Associated Press showed the Hellas Aphrodite was more than 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) off the Somali coast when the rescue took place—a testament to how far offshore Somali pirates are willing to operate.
Yet, even as the crew of the Hellas Aphrodite breathed a sigh of relief, maritime authorities warned that the threat in the region remains acute. Operation Atalanta cautioned, "The mother ship and the pirates remain in the area. A coordinated joint operation is ongoing to intercept the dhow used in this attack." The dhow, believed to be an Iranian fishing boat previously hijacked by pirates and renamed ISSAMOHAMADI, has been used as a "mother ship" to launch attacks hundreds of miles from shore, according to EUNAVFOR and the private security firm Ambrey.
This latest incident is not an isolated case. The same pirate group is suspected in a string of assaults over an eight-day spree, including an attempted attack on the chemical tanker Stolt Sagaland on November 3, 2025, about 330 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. Armed security aboard the Stolt Sagaland repelled the assailants with warning shots, while a mothership lingered nearby. Just a day earlier, the fishing vessel Intertuna Tres had also been targeted. On November 7, as the rescue was underway, the liquified natural gas carrier Al Thumama reported a close encounter with a speedboat carrying three armed individuals. The tanker managed to escape by increasing speed, as confirmed by the UK Maritime Trade Operations.
Somali piracy, once a daily headline, had faded from global consciousness after its peak in 2011, when 237 attacks were reported and the world’s economy took a $7 billion hit, including $160 million in ransoms, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy monitoring group. International naval patrols and a more stable Somali government had tamped down the threat. But as the Financial Times and other outlets have noted, the last year has seen a worrisome resurgence. The International Maritime Bureau recorded seven piracy incidents off Somalia in 2024, with pirates seizing multiple fishing vessels and, now, the Hellas Aphrodite—the first commercial ship hijacked since May 2024.
Experts point to the wider regional instability as a key factor. Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea have diverted naval resources and emboldened pirate groups, who now operate further from shore using hijacked dhows as mobile bases. Operation Atalanta documented dozens of piracy incidents throughout 2024, including four merchant vessel boardings and two high-profile hijackings: the MV Ruen, rescued by the Indian Navy after three months, and the MV Abdullah, released after a month, reportedly following a substantial ransom payment. In January 2025, a Chinese fishing vessel was hijacked off Puntland’s coast, underscoring the persistent risk.
The rescue of the Hellas Aphrodite was not the first major operation this year. In May 2024, the EU mission freed the Liberian-flagged MV Basilisk and its 17 crew, though the pirates escaped. Despite these successes, authorities say the pirates responsible for the latest attacks remain at large, and the area’s threat level is still considered critical.
To combat this evolving menace, Operation Atalanta is urging all merchant and vulnerable vessels to register with the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean’s Voluntary Registration Scheme. This system allows for better monitoring and quicker response in emergencies. Authorities also recommend ships avoid a 100-nautical-mile radius around recent attack locations and emphasize the importance of timely reporting of suspicious activity. All guidance is updated regularly on the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean’s website.
The impact of piracy goes beyond the immediate danger to ships and crews. Local Somali fishermen, like Osman Abdi of Mogadishu, voiced concern about the stigma and fear these attacks create. "Since the pirates have committed hijackings today, it creates a problem for us," Abdi told the Associated Press. "Their actions could be held against us, as many will consider us fishers to be pirates as well, and that instills fear in us."
As the international community continues its watch over the Indian Ocean, the rescue of the Hellas Aphrodite stands as both a victory and a warning. The pirates may have fled this time, but the waters off Somalia remain fraught with risk, and the fight against maritime crime is far from over.
