1 of 1
Story summary
- Operation Atalanta is responding to the hijacking of the Malta-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite off Somalia.
- The EU naval mission confirms all 24 crew members are safe.
- An early intervention by the ESPS Victoria prompted the pirates to abandon the vessel.
- The operation used a helicopter, a drone, and a frigate to pursue the pirates' mother ship.
- Despite a decline since 2011, piracy incidents have increased, with seven reported in 2024.
