Pirates have released a freighter, with 12 Pacific Islanders in its 24-strong crew, after a ransom was paid nearly four months after the ship was seized in the Indian Ocean.
The MV Hansa Stavanger - which was known as the Direct Condor on 34 voyages to Auckland for the Australia New Zealand Direct Line a decade ago - was a 15,988 tonne container vessel "sea-jacked" on April 4.
Its crew included 11 men from Tuvalu, and a Fijian, Wayne Suliana, as well as five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians, and two Filipinos, when it was taken 640km off the southern Somali port of Kismayu.
British Royal Navy Commander John Harbour today told the BBC that the ship - also known in New Zealand as Cap Pasado and Lykes Trader - was released several hours after a ransom was paid.
An Auckland minister, the Reverend Suamalie Iosefa, a Tuvalu-born minister of the Congregation of Christian Church, organised prayers for the Tuvalu sailors over Queen's Birthday Weekend.
Many of the sailors have family connections in New Zealand and Mr Iosefa said they needed to know their families, their community and their churches were "right behind them".
Mr Iosefa said he knew most of the Tuvaluan hostages. Nearly 3000 people from Tuvalu live in New Zealand.
One rescue attempt failed when the German government sent an elite combat force to storm the ship but pulled back after fears of a bloodbath.
The pirates initially demanded that the ship's owners, or even tiny Tuvalu, which has a population of just 12,000, pay a ransom of $US15 ($NZ22.8) million, but Tuvalu's Transport Minister Taukelina Finikaso called for other Pacific countries to put pressure on the Somali government.
Prime Minister John Key said at the time that New Zealand would "show solidarity" in opposition to the pirates holding Tuvaluans hostage.
Cdr Harbour said that after being released the Hansa Stavanger put to sea under its own steam and sailed under the protection of European naval force units," he said.
He said the European Union did not get involved in ransom deals and he could not confirm reports that $US2.7 million had been paid.
Frank Leonhardt, head of the Hamburg-based shipping company Leonhardt and Blumberg, said in a statement the ship would continue to Mombasa, Kenya, where it would be met by representatives from the company, and that the crew members would be flown to their homes "as quickly as possible".
He said the ordeal had been "seemingly endless" for the crew members and company.
"In the extremely difficult ransom negotiations with the pirates, my primary responsibility was always the safe release of the 24 crew members of the MV Hansa Stavanger."
Meanwhile, there are still 10 sailors, including seven Sri Lankan nationals, held aboard the New Zealand-managed vessel Charelle which was hijacked by Somali pirates on June 12.
Sri Lankan news media have reported the company linked to the Sri Lankan hostages is still negotiating with the Somali pirates for their release.
The 2800 tonnes MV Charelle, captured 100km south of Oman, is owned by German shipping firm Tarmstedt International, but operated from New Zealand.
