A merchant ship has come under attack off the Somali coast after armed assailants fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) before boarding the vessel, according to a UK maritime monitoring agency.
The Greek shipping company Latsco Marine Management, which operates the Malta-registered tanker Hellas Aphrodite, confirmed the incident, saying all 24 crew members are safe and accounted for. The crew reportedly secured themselves in the ship’s fortified citadel (safe room) while awaiting assistance.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the attack occurred approximately 560 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, a known piracy hotspot in Somalia.
“The Master of a vessel has reported being approached by a small craft on its stern. The craft fired small arms and RPGs towards the vessel,” UKMTO said in a statement.
Private maritime security company Ambrey indicated that the assailants were likely Somali pirates, citing a resurgence of similar attacks in recent weeks.
According to Latsco, the assault took place around 11:48 local time (08:48 GMT). The vessel, built in 2016, was transporting gasoline from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa, when it came under fire.
Latsco said its emergency response team has been activated and that the company is coordinating closely with European Union naval forces and regional maritime authorities to ensure the safety of the crew.
The attack underscores growing concerns about the return of Somali piracy, which had sharply declined after peaking over a decade ago. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded at least seven incidents in 2024, with several fishing vessels already seized this year.
The renewed wave of piracy poses a significant threat to global shipping lanes traversing the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, critical routes for international trade and energy transport.