European naval forces have secured an Iranian-flagged dhow connected to the seizure of the tanker HELLAS APHRODITE, a development that follows a series of pirate incidents in the Western Indian Ocean. The dhow had been left ashore on Somalia’s northwestern coastline, where it was monitored by the ATALANTA flagship ESPS VICTORIA in coordination with an Indian Navy warship. The tanker became safe again when EU forces reached it, prompting the armed group to abandon the vessel.
According to EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, the Pirate Action Group active in the area has been disrupted. After boarding the dhow, ATALANTA teams conducted checks and searches, while medical personnel examined the crew members and confirmed they were in good condition, safe, and free, in line with the information released by the operation.
Material relevant to judicial processes was also collected. Evidence secured on the dhow, together with items obtained from HELLAS APHRODITE, will be forwarded to support prosecution efforts. Cooperation continues with the Federal Government of Somalia and the Puntland Federal Government to locate the individuals involved.
Multiple international assets participated in the operation. ESPS VICTORIA deployed its helicopter, UAVs, and Special Operations Unit, supported by the VIGMA D4 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft. The effort also included an Indian Navy warship, a Japanese P3C under the Combined Maritime Forces, the Seychellois Air Forc,e and Somali authorities.
The dhow’s capture came shortly after Friday’s recovery of HELLAS APHRODITE, a Maltese-flagged tanker held for about 30 hours roughly 700 nm from Mogadishu. The 24 crewmembers remained unharmed after sheltering inside the citadel while the attackers used small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
As noted by Martin Kelly of EOS Risk Group, the events concluded an eight-day sequence in which the group also targeted Stolt Aphrodite on 3 November and the fishing vessel Intertuna Tres on 2 November. ATALANTA had earlier assessed it was “HIGHLY LIKELY” that an Iranian dhow reported hijacked on 28/10/25—believed to be named ISSAMOHAMADI and not transmitting AIS—served as the mother vessel in these incidents.
The rise in Somali piracy traces back to dhow hijackings reported in November 2023. Numerous cases followed in 2024 across the Somali Basin and the Gulf of Aden, including the MV Ruen, freed after three months by the Indian Navy, and the MV Abdullah, released after about a month following a reported ransom payment.
Given the continued threat, ATALANTA reiterated its advice that merchant and other vulnerable vessels register with MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS) to enable effective monitoring and response in the Western Indian Ocean.
