The nine seafarers from the LPG tanker CGas Saturn which were abducted on December 3 while the ship was on passage in the Gulf of Guinea, have been freed. The Lithuanian captain kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea in early December has been freed and is returning home, the government of Lithuania said last week.

Denmark’s Christiania Gas said in a statement on Monday that all nine of the seafarers abducted from the vessel have been released and are now safe. The men have meanwhile been in contact with their families and are being repatriated to their countries of origin to be reunited with their loved ones.

Furthermore, the company stated that the crew members have undergone full medical checks and have been provided with psychological support.

“The recent period has been an extremely difficult period for everyone, in particular for our 9 seafarers and their families. We would like to extend our gratitude and deep respect to our crew and their loved ones for the strength, trust and patience they have shown during this period of great uncertainty,” the statement reads.

The Portugal-flagged LPG tanker 3090-dwt CGas Saturn, built in 2003, came under attack from pirates on Wednesday, December 3 while on passage in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.

Christiania Gas said in early December that nine crew members had been taken off the LPG tanker CGas Saturn.

Four other seafarers of CGas Saturn remained on board of the ship and were able to navigate the ship to a safe berth in port in West Africa. One of the four crew sustained injuries during the attack and received medical care in an onshore hospital.

​“The captain of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker CGas Saturn – a Lithuanian citizen – and eight other crew members kidnapped by pirates on December 3 this year have been successfully released. The Lithuanian citizen is currently safe and, on his way, home,” the statement from the government of Lithuania said on Dec. 25.

The government said Lithuanian authorities had coordinated closely with the ship’s owners and international partners.

​To avoid endangering the hostages, officials refrained from releasing information publicly while the rescue effort was underway, it said.