Hellas-Aphrodite Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On the afternoon of November 7, 2023, the tanker 'Hellas Aphrodite' was successfully freed after being taken over by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The vessel, which had been boarded on November 6 while approximately 560 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, was under siege for more than 24 hours, with its 24 crew members safely securing themselves in the ship's citadel during the assault. The sophisticated response came from the Spanish frigate ESPS 'Victoria,' which was patrolling the region under EU naval operations. The crew included members from Montenegro, Greece, and the Philippines, all of whom remained unharmed throughout the ordeal. As the pirates fired small arms and attempted to launch rocket-propelled grenades towards the gasoline-laden tanker, a decisive show of force from the 'Victoria' prompted the Pirate Action Group to abandon their hijack attempt. The frigate deployed various aerial assets, including a helicopter and an uncrewed aerial vehicle, alongside its Special Operations team to monitor and secure the area. The mission was coordinated by Atalanta, the European Union's naval force concentrating on maritime security in the region. They worked collaboratively with local authorities in Puntland, suspected to be the pirates' origin, and involved international support from a Japanese P3C aircraft and a Seychelles maritime reconnaissance patrol aircraft. Throughout the incident, Atalanta maintained communication with the crew and was in touch with the vessel's flag state and owners. Following the incident, the 'Hellas Aphrodite' is set to resume its journey to Durban, with an estimated time of arrival slated for December 7, 2023. For further details and images of the operation, visit the official report: https://eunavfor.eu/news/operation-atalanta-liberates-merchant-tanker-hellas-aphrodite.

In a noteworthy advancement against piracy in the Western Indian Ocean, European naval forces have successfully seized the Iranian-flagged dhow 'Issamohamadi', which was implicated as a mother ship in the hijacking of the vessel 'Hellas Aphrodite'. This operation marks a critical victory in ongoing efforts to combat piracy in the region. The dhow was found abandoned on Somalia’s northwestern coast after being closely monitored by the operational flagship, the ESPS 'Victoria', in collaboration with an Indian Navy warship. EUNAVFOR ATALANTA announced that the Pirate Action Group engaged in this area has been effectively disrupted, showcasing the success of this decisive maritime intervention. Upon boarding the dhow, ATALANTA forces conducted thorough verifications and searches to ensure the safety of the crew, who were confirmed to be in good health and unharmed. This operation has also provided vital intelligence that will support legal actions against the alleged pirates involved. Evidence gathered on the dhow, alongside findings from the 'Hellas Aphrodite', will be pivotal in the prosecution of those responsible for these crimes. Continuing their collaborative efforts, ATALANTA forces are working with both the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland authorities to locate and apprehend the involved pirates. This counter-piracy initiative mobilized an array of international partners and resources. The ATALANTA flagship deployed helicopters, Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, and a Special Operations Unit, while also receiving aerial support from the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft VIGMA D4. Additionally, the operation featured contributions from an Indian Navy warship, a Japanese P3C aircraft from the Combined Maritime Forces, the Seychellois Air Force, and Somali officials. This operation concludes an eight-day series of attacks by the pirate group, which had targeted the 'Stolt Aphrodite' on November 3 and the purse seiner 'Intertuna Tres' on November 2. The dhow 'Issamohamadi' was reported hijacked on October 28, and it served as a mother vessel in these operations, notably while not transmitting AIS signals. Given the ongoing threats in the region, Operation ATALANTA urges all merchant and vulnerable vessels to participate in the MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS) to facilitate enhanced monitoring and response capabilities from ATALANTA forces and their partners in tackling maritime security challenges in the Western Indian Ocean. For a detailed report and photographs, visit [EUNAVFOR](https://eunavfor.eu/news/atalanta-takes-control-dhow-involved-hellas-aphrodite-piracy-incident).

In a significant response to recent pirate activities in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy and European Union naval forces have initiated a comprehensive maritime surveillance operation aimed at locating a Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG). This group has been linked to multiple attacks, including the alarming hijacking of the tanker 'Hellas Aphrodite'. Monitoring efforts are currently focused on this PAG by both the Indian Navy and the EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA, ensuring that there is currently no imminent threat to merchant vessels in the area. The rescue mission for the 'Hellas Aphrodite', which lasted 30 hours, unfolded approximately 700 nautical miles from Mogadishu, resulting in the safe recovery of all 24 crew members who took refuge in the ship’s citadel during the assault. The pirates, equipped with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, withdrew as international forces mounted a powerful rescue operation. The Spanish flagship, ESPS 'Victoria', played a crucial role in the operation, deploying helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and maritime patrol aircraft alongside a Special Operations Team. Support also came from Puntland authorities, combined forces with Japanese P3C aircraft, and Seychelles Maritime Reconnaissance Patrol Aircraft, enhancing the coordinated response. After witnessing the overwhelming show of force, the Pirate Action Group abandoned the hijacked tanker. However, they still remain in the vicinity, prompting an ongoing collaborative effort to intercept the dhow that facilitated the attack. The area around the incident continues to face critical threat levels, with authorities urging vessels to exercise heightened caution when navigating through these waters. Investigations are underway to gather evidence for possible legal action against the alleged pirates, as Operation ATALANTA and its maritime security partners persist in their search operations. Within a span of eight days leading up to this incident, the same pirate group had also targeted the 'Stolt Aphrodite' on November 3 and the fishing vessel 'Intertuna Tres' on November 2. Furthermore, the 'Stolt Sagaland' managed to thwart an attack by providing armed security personnel who effectively deterred four unauthorized individuals attempting to board, approximately 330 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. Another alarming incident occurred on November 7, when the Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier 'Al Thumama' encountered a small craft with three individuals on board near the attack site of the 'Hellas Aphrodite'. However, this tanker managed to escape the speedboat in time, further illustrating the escalating risks posed by pirate activity. The escalation of hijackings began in November 2023, coinciding with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region. In 2024, Operation ATALANTA recorded numerous incidents within the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden, including four merchant vessel boardings and two notable hijackings: the 'Ruen', which was held captive for three months before its rescue by the Indian Navy, and the 'Abdullah', which was released following a considerable ransom payment after a month of captivity. In January 2025, the hijacking of a Chinese fishing vessel off the coast of Puntland further emphasizes the ongoing threat of piracy in this region. To bolster maritime security amid these dangers, Operation ATALANTA strongly recommends that vulnerable vessels enroll in the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean’s Voluntary Registration Scheme, facilitating efficient monitoring and response by ATALANTA forces and their partners. Maritime authorities have previously alerted vessels to maintain a distance of 100 nautical miles from locations where pirate activity is suspected.

In a daring act of piracy, the tanker 'Hellas Aphrodite' was attacked while sailing from Sikka to Durban, with an expected arrival date of November 13, 2025. The incident occurred on the morning of November 6, 2023, approximately 549 nautical miles east-southeast of Hobyo, a location previously deemed safe and outside the typical high-risk zone associated with Somali piracy. Armed assailants launched an attack from a skiff that originated from a suspected Iranian-flagged mothership, known as the dhow 'Issamohahmdi.' The hijackers boarded the vessel, which notably lacked an armed security team. Following the boarding at 06:44 a.m. UTC, the 'Hellas Aphrodite' altered its course and speed, veering off its original path at a distance of about 546 nautical miles from the Somali coastline. In response to the situation, another nearby tanker quickly changed course to avoid the area. The 'Issamohahmdi,' which has been implicated in this attack, has a history of hijacking and is linked to three prior incidents off the Somali coast. Recent AIS data indicates the dhow's last transmission was around 560 nautical miles offshore. In light of these developments, the EU NAVFOR Atalanta operation has elevated the regional threat level, cautioning that a pirate action group (PAG) operating from the hijacked dhow remains active in the central Indian Ocean. Security firms are urging all merchant vessels to exercise extreme caution and adhere to BMP5 protection measures, as the likelihood of further pirate attempts increases in the following days.