A Notice To Mariners, previously issued by the US Coast Guard Maritime Liason Office in Bahrain, was withdrawn at 10:15 local time. Further reports indicate the the ship's master has confirmed that both vessel and crew are safely at anchor at Eritrea's Port of Massawa.
Initial reports from international naval forces operating in the area said the vessel had been hijacked after it was boarded by armed personnel who forced the vessel to anchor off the coast of Eritrea.
However, Reuters later quoted EU Navfor as saying that the vessel had been boarded by the Eritrean navy and not hijacked by pirates.
"We assess this is an operation by the Eritrean forces, who went on board the vessel," Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff, spokeswoman for EU Navfor was quoted as saying. "We believe the vessel is now in the hands of the Eritrean forces.”
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