An Iranian-flagged dhow, likely to have been used as a support mother vessel by Somali pirates, was captured by European naval forces in the recent hijacking of tanker HELLAS APHRODITE. This attack marked a significant victory in disrupting Somali piracy operations that have been sustained for some time in the Western Indian Ocean.
This suspected mother vessel had been found abandoned by alleged pirates on Somalia’s northwestern coastline. It was closely tracked & monitored by the operation’s flagship – ESPS VICTORIA, working alongside an Indian Navy warship. It’s said that the pirates had fled the captured tanker – HELLAS APHRODITE – on seeing the EU forces swooping down on them.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA had announced that the pirate action group operating in that area was disrupted, emphasising that the operation was a success in neutralising the immediate piracy threat.
ATALANTA forces, on boarding the dhow, had conducted comprehensive verifications & searches to ensure crew security. According to the statement, the medical team examined the crew members to confirm that they were safe, free, and in good health.
This successful operation is said to have yielded critical intelligence for legal proceedings. On board the dhow, ATALANTA forces have gathered evidence & intelligence about the incident. Officials had stated that this, together with evidence collected from merchant tanker HELLAS APHRODITE, will be turned in to support the legal prosecution of the perpetrators. Operations are sustained with the cooperation of the federal government of Somalia & the Puntland federal government in locating & apprehending the alleged pirates.
The coordinated counterpiracy effort involved multiple assets and international partners. The ATALANTA flagship ESPS VICTORIA had deployed its helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles, besides a special operations unit. Meantime, maritime patrol & reconnaissance aircraft VIGMA D4 had provided aerial support. Besides an Indian Navy warship that supported this operation, a Japanese maritime patrol & reconnaissance aircraft, P3C, from the combined maritime forces of the Seychelles Air Force & Somali authorities formed the support team.
The seizure of the suspected mother vessel of the Iranian-flagged dhow on Friday, 7th November, besides the rescue of the Maltese-flagged HELLAS APHRODITE, 700 nautical miles from Mogadishu, had apparently involved a 30-hour ordeal. All 24 crew members had emerged unharmed after seeking shelter in the vessel’s citadel. The crew members asserted that the pirates possessed small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
This incident is said to represent the culmination of an 8-day campaign by the same pirate group, previously targeting the STOLT APHRODITE on Monday, November 3rd, and the fishing vessel ITERTUNA TRES the day before, on Sunday, November 2nd, as reported by the Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, Martin Kelly.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA is said to have assessed that it was ‘highly likely’ that the Iranian dhow, reported on Tuesday 28 October 2025, was most probably used as the supporting mother vessel for the multiple pirate attacks. This dhow, believed to be named ISSAMOHAMADI, was apparently not transmitting AIS signals?
This resurgence in Somali piracy seems to reflect an anxiety-causing pattern that began two years ago, in November 2023, involving a series of dhow hijackings. Operation ATALANTA had documented dozens of such incidents, both in the Somali Basin and besides the Gulf of Aden, only a year back in 2024. These incidents included the MV Ruen, which was held for 3 months before being eventually rescued by the Indian navy. MV Abdullah, however, was released after a month, reportedly following a considerably large ransom payment.
In light of the continuing threat that’s sustained, Operation ATALANTA has strongly recommended that all merchant & other vulnerable vessels be registered in the MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS). This recommended procedure is likely to provide the most effective monitoring, besides the response from ATALANTA forces & its partners in effectively countering maritime security threats in the western Indian Ocean.
