The Iranian-flagged dhow used as a mother ship in the hijacking of the Maltese-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite has been liberated by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA forces. The dhow, abandoned by the alleged pirates on the northwestern coast of Somalia, was closely tracked and monitored by the operation’s flagship, ESPS Victoria, and an Indian Navy warship.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA has carried out the necessary verifications and searches on board to ensure the security of the crew. А medical team has checked the crew members, who are in good condition and safe.
The seizure marked the culmination of an eight-day piracy campaign, during which the group boarded Hellas Aphrodite and attacked several other vessels. Hijacked Iranian dhow was used as the mother vessel for these multiple attacks.
“The Pirate Action Group operating in the area has been definitely disrupted,” EUNAVFOR ATALANTA announced.
ATALANTA forces on board the dhow have gathered evidence and intelligence of the incident, which, together with the evidence collected on board the merchant tanker Hellas Aphrodite, will be submitted to support the legal prosecution of the perpetrators. To achieve this end, ATALANTA continues working with the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland authorities to locate and apprehend the alleged pirates.
Operation ATALANTA strongly recommends that merchant and other vulnerable vessels register in the MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS) to provide the most effective monitoring and response by ATALANTA forces and their partners in countering maritime security threats in the Western Indian Ocean.
