The European Union naval force, Operation Atalanta, under Portuguese command, successfully liberated a ship that had been hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia.
The incident involved the merchant vessel MV Hellas Aphrodite, which last Thursday was approached by five armed individuals with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) approximately 600 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, with 24 crew members on board.
“Following the piracy alert, Operation ATALANTA’s forces were immediately mobilized to handle the incident, acting swiftly and effectively as part of the mission’s framework”, stated the Office of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in a communiqué sent to newsrooms this Saturday.
The mission, which included the “presence of 10 Portuguese soldiers in the General Staff” integrated into the multinational force’s structure, “prevented casualties and restored safety to the 24-member crew”.
The statement indicated that this action occurs as part of the 51st rotation of Operation ATALANTA, running from October 2025 to February 2026, currently under Portuguese leadership.
“Portugal thus reaffirms its commitment to international maritime security and the protection of global trade routes through active and exemplary participation in European Union missions”, it reads.
On Friday, a source from the European naval force had already indicated that the 24 sailors aboard an attacked tanker had been freed.
The seizure of the Malta-flagged Hellas Aphrodite, transporting a gasoline cargo from India to South Africa, ended when the Spanish frigate Victoria approached the vessel.
The 24 sailors aboard the tanker attacked on Thursday by pirates off Somalia were released after a European Union naval force reached the vessel today, announced Operation Atalanta.
Lusa | 15:26 – 07/11/2025
It should be noted that Portugal assumed command of the 51st rotation of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) as part of Operation Atalanta, “reaffirming the national commitment to international maritime security and the joint efforts of the European Union to combat piracy and ensure freedom of navigation in the Western Indian Ocean.”
EUNAVFOR, commanded by Commodore João Pedro Monteiro da Silva, comprises military personnel from the Portuguese Navy, the Spanish Navy, and the Italian Navy.
