Somali pirates have released a UK-flagged chemical tanker after a ransom drop was completed, the European Union Naval Force (Eunavfor) has confirmed.

The St James Park was on its way to Thailand from Spain when it was hijacked by pirates on 28 December 2009 and was taken to Somalia’s port of Garacaad.

The 13,924t vessel was carrying a cargo of chemicals and 26 crew from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Georgia, India, Turkey and the Philippines.

Eunavfor is monitoring the recovered vessel.

The agency has not disclosed the amount paid to the hijackers.