Suspected Pirates Board Greek-Operated Vessel off Somali Coast

MOGADISHU, Xinhua: Attackers suspected to be pirates boarded a ship off the coast of Somalia on Thursday after firing machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the vessel, the shipping company and a maritime security agency have confirmed.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the Greek shipping company Latsco Marine Management said the incident occurred while the vessel, carrying a cargo of gasoline, was transiting from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa, about 550 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.

“All 24 crew are safe and accounted for, and we remain in close contact with them,” Latsco said in a statement.

Following the attack on its managed vessel Hellas Aphrodite, the company said it had activated its emergency response team and was coordinating with the relevant authorities to ensure the continued safety and welfare of the crew.

The UKMTO has issued an alert about the attack on the vessel. The agency said the ship’s master reported being approached by a small craft from the stern.

“The small craft fired small arms and rocket-propelled grenades toward the vessel. Unauthorized personnel of the small craft have boarded the vessel,” it said.

Sources said the attackers were probably Somali pirates, who are often heavily armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade and sometimes use skiffs launched from “mother vessels,” which may be hijacked fishing vessels or dhows, to conduct attacks far from the Somali coast.

Maritime experts said that the lack of economic opportunities and the prevalence of illegal fishing are pushing more Somalis to turn to piracy, partly as a form of protest and partly because they see no other options.