A Malta-flagged product tanker, Hellas Aphrodite, was boarded by armed pirates in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, marking one of the most serious piracy incidents in the region in recent years.

According to maritime security reports, the attack took place approximately 550 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia—well beyond the traditional high-risk piracy area. The vessel was en route from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa, carrying a cargo of gasoline.

Security firm Ambrey and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a group of armed assailants approached the tanker using a fast craft and opened fire with small arms and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) before managing to board. The 24-member crew took refuge in the vessel’s citadel, and all have been reported safe.

The tanker, managed by Greece-based Latsco Marine Management, did not have an armed security team onboard at the time of the incident. Naval sources indicate that the attackers may have operated from a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel used as a “mothership.”

EU NAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta confirmed that naval assets were deployed and in communication with the ship’s management team. Coordination between regional maritime security centers remains ongoing to secure the vessel and ensure the crew’s safety.

This attack highlights a worrying resurgence of Somali-linked piracy activity, as international naval attention has shifted toward the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to ongoing regional conflicts. Analysts warn that criminal groups may be exploiting reduced naval presence in the central Indian Ocean to re-establish operations.

Maritime authorities have urged all vessels transiting the area to heighten security measures, report suspicious activity, and review route risk assessments.

The incident underscores the continuing vulnerability of merchant ships navigating through remote waters of the Indian Ocean, and the need for sustained international coordination to safeguard global maritime trade routes.