Suspected pirates boarded an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean off Somalia’s coast on Thursday as maritime security agencies flag renewed Somali pirate activity in the region.
The Hellas Aphrodite oil tanker was illegally boarded on Thursday morning local time, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. The Master of the vessel has reported being approached by one small craft on its stern. The small craft fired small arms and RPGs towards the vessel. Unauthorized personnel of the small craft have boarded the vessel, UKMTO said.
The company managing the vessel, Latsco Marine Management Inc, confirmed there has been a security incident with the Hellas Aphrodite southeast of Somalia.
“The incident occurred at approximately 11:48 hours local time (UTC+4) on 6 November 2025, while the vessel, carrying a cargo of gasoline, was transiting from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa,” the company said.
The incident occurred approximately 550 nautical miles off coast of Somalia.
“All 24 crew are safe and accounted for, and we remain in close contact with them,” Latsco Marine Management said, adding it has activated its emergency response team and is coordinating with the relevant authorities to ensure the continued safety and welfare of the crew.
For security reasons, Latsco Marine Management said it would not be providing further information at this time.
The Hellas Aphrodite is a 49,992-dwt product tanker, built in 2016 and registered in Malta.
The incident took place just as maritime risk management firm Ambrey warned earlier this week that “It is highly likely that a Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG) is at sea.”
The group is believed to have been operating more than 300 nautical miles offshore Somalia.
“There has already been an exchange of fire with a Private Armed Security Team (PAST) onboard a Cayman Islands-flagged tanker. There was an earlier approach toward a Seychelles-flagged seiner, likely deterred with warning shots by another PAST,” Ambrey said.
“Those approached matched the known target profiles and capabilities of Somali pirates.”
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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