Pirates off the coasts of Somalia have hijacked a commercial vessel for the first time in 18 months, raising fears of a resurgence of armed attacks along the coasts of Somalia

The seizure of the Hellas Aphrodite, carrying a load of gasoline from India to South Africa, ended as the European Union naval force came alongside the vessel.

An EU warship secured the crew of an oil products tanker on Friday after it was attacked by pirates off Somalia, its operator and a European Union naval mission said, as worries grow over a resurgence of piracy after years of calm.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued an alert over the attack, warning ships in the area.