The British authorities said Monday that seven people were arrested after British special forces stormed an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight following a suspected hijacking on Sunday.
鈥淚 can confirm the crew are safe and the operation to secure the vessel concluded successfully,鈥� Health Minister Matt Hancock told Sky News on Monday.
Hancock added: 鈥淚 would like to pay tribute to the police and armed forces who did such an exemplary job 鈥� this is what they train for and this is what they're there for, to protect our country and they did that to such a high standard.鈥�
The Liberian-registered tanker is called Nava Andromeda, and there were several stowaways, believed to be Nigerians seeking UK asylum.
The stowaways were handed over to Hampshire Police on Sunday night. All 22 crew members were safe, and the 228-meter tanker docked in Southampton.
The ordeal lasted 10 hours, and was brought to an end by sixteen members of the Special Boat Service, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the Royal Navy., with most of its members from Royal Marine Commandos.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement: 鈥淚n response to a police request, the Defence Secretary and Home Secretary authorised Armed Forces personnel to board a ship in the English Channel to safeguard life and secure a ship that was subject to suspected hijacking.
鈥淎rmed forces have gained control of the ship and seven individuals have been detained. Police investigations will now continue. Initial reports confirm the crew are safe and well.鈥�
Hampshire Police said in a statement: 鈥淎t 10.04 am today concerns were raised to police for the welfare of crew onboard the vessel, which was situated approximately six miles off the coast of Bembridge.
鈥淭he vessel had been traveling in the direction of Southampton, having sailed from Lagos in Nigeria. It was reported that a number of stowaways were onboard, and they had made threats towards the crew.
鈥淔ollowing a multi-agency response by police, with support from the military and other emergency service partners, seven people were detained by police.鈥�
Navios Tankers Management, who operate the ship, said in a statement that the stowaways had 鈥渋llegally boarded鈥� the ship in Lagos, Nigeria.
The statement added that the ship鈥檚 master became 鈥渃oncerned for the safety of the crew due to the increasingly hostile behaviour of the stowaways鈥�.
They thanked the UK authorities 鈥渇or their timely and professional response,鈥� and paid 鈥渢ribute to the master of the Nave Andromeda for his exemplary response and calmness and to all the crew for their fortitude in a difficult situation鈥�.
By Karim El-Bar in London
Anadolu Agency