Hijacked UAE-owned and flagged oil tanker MV Jubba XX was released by pirates on Wednesday without payment of any ransom or giving any concessions, thanks to the UAE's good reputation and relations with other countries.
Immediate instructions were given by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of National Transport Authority to follow up the incident, ensure the safety of the crew and communicate with the owners of the tanker which was forced by kidnappers to head out to Somali coast.
The authority followed the tanker's movements and coordinated with the involved parties until it was released.
Full support to the owners of the tanker was ordered by Sheikh Hamdan until the release was made.
The MV Jubba XX and its 17-man crew were seized on July 16 while carrying 3,500 tonnes of oil products from Umm Al Quwain port.
The tanker is owned by Sharjah-based Jubba General Trading Co LLC and is registered under number 5371 and has a crew of 17 sailors from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Myanmar, Kenya and Somalia.