New Delhi:
All 20 Indian crew members aboard chemical tanker MV Cotton, hijacked by suspected pirates off the coast of Gabon last week, are safe and the ship is back under their control, ministry of external affairs said on Monday.
"MV Cotton back under control of crew. All crew of MV Cotton safe," ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
The Turkish-owned, Maltese-flagged tanker was believed to be hijacked on Sunday while awaiting berthing in the Gulf of Guinea.
The owners of the 2007-built MV Cotton had lost contact with the tanker late on Sunday.