Resurgence of Somali Piracy: Grenade Attack on Tanker

Thu Nov 06 2025 16:25:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A tanker carrying gasoline was attacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia, highlighting a concerning resurgence of piracy in the region. All crew members are reported safe.

In a recent incident off the coast of Somalia, a tanker named Hellas Aphrodite was attacked by suspected Somali pirates who fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an alert about the attack, which occurred approximately 560 nautical miles from the Somali town of Eyl. Greek shipping company Latsco Marine Management confirmed the safety of all 24 crew members. This assault underscores a troubling resurgence of piracy in the region, with multiple incidents reported in recent months.

Attackers have boarded a ship off the coast of Somalia after firing machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the vessel, according to a UK maritime agency.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued an alert about the raid, which it said happened about 560 nautical miles south-east of the Somali town of Eyl.

Private security firm Ambrey reported that the attackers were probably Somali pirates, who have been active in the region recently.

Greek shipping company Latsco Marine Management confirmed the attack, stating that all the ship's 24 crew were safe and accounted for and that they remain in close contact with them.

The Master of a vessel has reported being approached by one small craft on its stern. The small craft fired small arms and RPGs towards the vessel, UKMTO said in a statement.

According to Latsco, the attack on the Malta-registered vessel occurred at around 11:48 local time (08:48GMT). The vessel was a tanker carrying gasoline.

[Latsco] has activated its emergency response team and is coordinating with the relevant authorities to ensure the continued safety and welfare of the crew, it stated.

The vessel, named Hellas Aphrodite, was built in 2016 and was en route from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa.

The attack comes amid a resurgence of piracy in the region, which had declined after peaking more than a decade ago. There were at least seven reported incidents last year, and several fishing vessels have already been seized by pirates this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.