Pirates have boarded a Malta-flagged products tanker, Hellas Aphrodite, off the coast of Somalia, with 24 crew members taking shelter in the ship’s citadel.
The European Union’s naval force has deployed to the area, ready to respond to the piracy alert.
The tanker, carrying gasoline from India to South Africa, was attacked by pirates on a skiff who opened fire and launched a rocket-propelled grenade.
The crew is safe, and the vessel’s manager, Latsco Marine Management, has activated its emergency response team.
This incident marks the biggest escalation in Somali piracy since 2024, raising concerns for shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
