European Union and Indian navies take over ship used by pirates off Somalia to seize tanker

European and Indian naval forces have successfully taken control of a fishing vessel that pirates had used as a base for maritime attacks off the Somali coast, the European Union Naval Force announced Wednesday.

The Iranian fishing vessel Issamohamadi, a traditional dhow-type ship, had been abandoned by pirates after they seized the Malta-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite last week. The tanker, carrying gasoline from India to South Africa, was the first commercial ship captured by Somali pirates since May 2024.

A boarding team from the Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria found the original crew of the Issamohamadi in “good condition, safe and free,” according to the EU statement. Iranian authorities have not yet commented on the seizure of their vessel.

“The pirate group operating in the area has been definitely disrupted,” declared Operation Atalanta, the EU’s naval mission in the region. The operation confirmed it has gathered intelligence and evidence from both vessels that will be submitted to support legal prosecution of the perpetrators.

This incident marks the latest development in what appears to be a resurgence of Somali piracy, which had largely subsided following its peak in 2011. That year saw 237 reported attacks, costing the global economy approximately $7 billion, including $160 million paid in ransoms, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy monitoring group.

The threat had been significantly reduced through a combination of increased international naval patrols, a strengthening central government in Somalia, and various counter-piracy initiatives. However, the security landscape in the region has shifted dramatically over the past year.

Maritime security experts point to the conflict in Yemen as a contributing factor to this resurgence. Houthi rebels’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor, launched in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, created a security vacuum that pirates have exploited. Although the Houthis have recently signaled a pause in their attacks as a ceasefire in Gaza takes hold, the disruption to regional security patterns has already had consequences.

The International Maritime Bureau reports seven incidents off Somalia in 2024 alone. Multiple fishing vessels have been seized by Somali pirates this year before the capture of the Hellas Aphrodite, which represented a significant escalation as it was the first commercial tanker taken.

The Horn of Africa’s strategic location—near vital shipping lanes connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia—makes it particularly vulnerable to maritime threats. Approximately 12% of global trade passes through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, with thousands of vessels transiting these waters annually.

The economic impact of renewed piracy extends beyond the immediate costs of ransoms and naval operations. Insurance premiums for ships traveling through these high-risk areas increase substantially, and shipping companies often implement costly security measures or choose longer alternative routes to avoid the region entirely.

Regional stability also faces challenges from ongoing conflicts in Somalia and Yemen, creating conditions where piracy can thrive. Despite international efforts to support Somalia’s central government, large portions of the country remain outside effective state control, allowing criminal networks to operate with relative impunity in coastal regions.

The EU’s Operation Atalanta, established in 2008, continues to play a crucial role in counter-piracy efforts alongside naval forces from India, the United States, China, and other nations. However, naval presence alone cannot address the root causes of piracy, which include poverty, unemployment, and political instability in Somalia.

As shipping companies and international navies adjust to this renewed threat, maritime security analysts warn that sustained vigilance and international cooperation will be essential to prevent a return to the crisis levels of piracy seen a decade ago.