Naval Forces Contain Pirate Group off Somali Coast

Naval forces have successfully contained a pirate group operating near Somalia after a series of security incidents in the Indian Ocean, including last week’s hijacking of the tanker Hellas Aphrodite.

Following several days of pursuit, the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta intercepted a dhow occupied by pirates and linked to recent attacks. According to the EU’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean, the group “is being monitored closely” and “there is currently no threat to merchant vessels.”

The pirate action group (PAG) had been active for over a week, targeting vessels hundreds of miles from the Somali coastline. Maritime consultancy Vanguard Tech reported that the pirates are still holding the dhow’s fishing crew and have refused to surrender, though they no longer pose an immediate risk to commercial shipping.

The same group was behind the November 6 boarding of the Malta-flagged product tanker Hellas Aphrodite, owned by Latsco Shipping. The vessel was sailing from India to Durban when armed attackers in a skiff opened fire and boarded it roughly 560 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia. The 24 crew members secured themselves in the citadel while the pirates searched the ship.

Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria, operating under EUNAVFOR Atalanta, responded the following day. After a display of force from the warship, the pirates fled the Hellas Aphrodite, leaving all crew members unharmed.

The same pirate group is suspected of trying to approach the LNG carrier Al Thumama on November 7, but the Qatari-owned vessel managed to avoid capture. Other ships—such as the fishing vessel Intertuna Tres, the bulker Spar Apus, and the tanker Stolt Sagaland—were also reportedly approached by the group earlier in the month.

On Sunday, maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the hijacked dhow Issamohhamadi 2 was being escorted by the Indian Navy towards Somali territorial waters near Dhinowda. The company assessed that, thanks to the strong naval presence, the current risk to merchant vessels remains low, though ships are advised to avoid the area.

In a separate incident in West Africa, the Netherlands-flagged cargo ship UAL Africa was boarded late Saturday about 75 nautical miles west of Bata, Equatorial Guinea, while en route from Houston to Malabo. The crew took refuge in the citadel during the attack, and authorities later confirmed that the vessel and all crew members were safe, allowing the ship to continue its voyage.