Eyl-Somalia-The 50,000 dwt vessel was traveling from Sikka, India, to Durban, South Africa, when it came under attack early Thursday, approximately 549 nautical miles east-southeast of Hobyo, Somalia—well outside the conventional high-risk area, according to private security firm Ambrey.

The assault involved a skiff launched from a suspected Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, believed to have been recently hijacked by Somali pirates and linked to multiple incidents in the region over the past weeks.

Pirates fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades before boarding the tanker, which had no armed security team on board, the Associated Press reported.

The crew locked themselves inside the ship’s citadel for protection during the incident, according to maritime security firm Diaplous Group.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an alert warning vessels in the area.

Earlier this week, the EU’s counter-piracy force deployed a warship off Somalia following reports of a suspected pirate group attempting to target ships in the region.

There have been growing concerns that piracy could resurface, despite a defense agreement the Somali government has signed with Turkey to protect the security of the Somali Sea