• Somali pirates targeted a Malta-flagged tanker off the coast of Somalia.
• Attack involved machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, crew remained safe.
• Recent attacks highlight a resurgence of piracy since late 2023.
• The attack on the Hellas Aphrodite is the first commercial ship seized in over a year.
• International agencies warn of escalating pirate incidents in the region.

On November 6, a Malta-flagged vessel, identified as the Hellas Aphrodite, was attacked by suspected Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia. The vessel was en route from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa, when the attackers, armed with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, boarded the ship. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning stating that the assault came amid a resurgence of piracy in the region, which had previously seen a decline after peaking over a decade ago, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

The attack was confirmed by the private security firm Ambrey, which noted that the vessel's crew of 24 locked themselves in a secure area of the ship to ensure their safety during the assault. Notably, the ship did not carry an armed security team, which raises concerns about the vulnerability of commercial vessels sailing in these waters, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.

This incident marks the first successful seizure of a commercial shipping vessel by pirates off Somalia in over a year, coinciding with an uptick in reported piracy incidents in the region. In late 2023, there was a noted increase in pirate activity, partly attributed to a reduction in anti-piracy patrols and ongoing regional instability, including actions by Houthi rebels, according to BBC, Africanews, and Al Jazeera.

The European Union's Operation Atalanta, deployed to combat piracy in the region, has noted the threatening resurgence of these piracy activities and is prepared to respond to such incidents. The EU has reiterated warnings to maritime operators operating in these waters, emphasizing that pirate assaults are “almost certain” to occur, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.