A tanker with 22 Indian crew on board has been released by pirates who had seized the vessel off the coast of West Africa, the company that manages the ship said Tuesday. The Panama-registered MT Marine Express, loaded with 13,500 tonnes of petrol, was anchored off Benin when authorities lost contact on Thursday. "Marine Express, which was the subject of a pirate attack and seizure in the Gulf of Guinea on February 1st, is now back under the command of the captain and crew," the Hong Kong-based Anglo-Eastern said in a statement.
"All crew members are reported to be safe and well, and the cargo of 13,500 tons of gasoline remains on board." The company did not say whether it had paid a ransom to secure the safe release of the crew and cargo.