EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA has confirmed the successful release of the bulk carrier Golden Arsenal, bringing an end to a piracy incident that began on 1 July in the Gulf of Aden.
The vessel came under attack approximately 110 nautical miles northeast of Bosaso, Somalia, when armed men reportedly equipped with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades attempted to seize the ship. The crew immediately stopped the vessel, transmitted a distress alert and took shelter in the citadel.
The Indian Navy frigate INS Trikand was dispatched to the scene and launched a helicopter with a boarding team. Indian naval personnel secured MV Golden Arsenal, confirmed that no pirates remained on board and escorted the crew safely out of the citadel. No injuries were reported, although the vessel sustained minor structural and equipment damage before continuing its voyage.
Despite the successful outcome, maritime security agencies say the piracy threat in the region remains elevated. Operation ATALANTA believes at least one Pirate Action Group is currently operating near the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), and another merchant vessel was reportedly targeted in a separate attempted attack in the same area.
The operation also confirmed that the tankers MV Honour 25 and MV Eureka, together with the merchant vessel MV Sward, remain under pirate control in the Somali Basin. 44 seafarers are still being held aboard the three vessels after hijackings that occurred between April and May.
In the past three months, the IMO recorded 24 piracy and armed robbery incidents in the region, including both attempted and successful attacks. The attacks involved more dangerous weapons and growing violence against seafarers.
Globally, piracy and armed robbery at sea rose by 17% between 2024 and 2025, from 146 to 171 reported incidents.
