A European Union naval mission has taken control of the Iranian-flagged dhow used by pirates to attack an oil products tanker off the coast of Somalia.

A recent spate of attacks on vessels off the Horn of Africa, including the first in a year by suspected Somali pirates, rekindled concerns over the security of shipping lanes carrying critical energy and goods to global markets.

However, the EU naval force, known as Operation Atalanta, said the crew of the dhow was safe and in good condition, adding that it was working with Somali authorities to track down the pirates.

“The dhow, abandoned by the alleged pirates on the northwestern coast of Somalia, was closely tracked and monitored by the operation’s flagship and an Indian Navy warship.

“The pirate group operating in the area has been definitely disrupted,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

The pirates had seized the dhow, a fishing vessel, early this month and used it days later to board the Maltese-flagged tanker, the Hellas Aphrodite, carrying gasoline to South Africa from India.

The EU naval force secured the tanker on Friday.

(Reuters/NAN)