🔗 Share this article European Union Maritime Forces Free Crew Following Somali Piracy Incident on Vessel The Maltese-flagged tanker was captured by armed attackers on recently EU naval forces have successfully rescued two dozen crew members from a Malta-registered oil tanker that was targeted by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The vessel, which was carrying petrol from Indian ports to South Africa, was seized on the recent incident when heavily armed attackers opened fire with automatic weapons and explosive projectiles before taking control of the ship. All sailors secured themselves inside a fortified citadel while the attackers assumed command of the ship. Mission Accomplished A Spanish warship, functioning under the EU's anti-piracy mission, reached the ship on the following day. Special forces boarded the vessel and discovered all two dozen sailors unharmed. "All personnel is secure and no harm have been documented. During the incident, they remained in the citadel in direct contact with command center," authorities announced, noting that a "show of force" had prompted the pirates to abandon the vessel before the warship reached the location. Continuing Danger Officials added that the danger level in the region "remains critical" as the pirates are continue to be in the vicinity. The rescue operation involved a aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and surveillance aircraft. Shortly before, a different vessel in the same area was approached by a small speedboat but successfully avoided it. Resurgence of Piracy This event marks the latest in a spate of incidents that have created concern about a resurgence of maritime crime in the area. Such activity had decreased when international naval patrols and security measures were implemented after peaking more than a ten years past. Nevertheless, assaults by Yemen's Houthi rebels on ships in the Arabian Sea, which have been conducted for the recent period, have caused vessels to be rerouted through East Africa's Indian Ocean - creating new possibilities for local pirate groups. Incident Data Seven reported incidents of maritime crime occurred off the shoreline of Somalia in the previous year Several vessel takeovers were documented among these incidents A single case of piracy was noted in the preceding year Maritime security experts continue to monitor the developments as vessel operators navigate these increasingly dangerous shipping lanes.