Ship registry bosses in the Isle of Man have dismissed reports a Manx-flagged tanker is still under pirate control.

The master and crew of the Energy Centurion were taken hostage at sea off the coast of Togo in west Africa on Tuesday.

Yesterday the registry issued a statement that all personnel had been released unharmed and had re gained control of the vessel, drifting off Nigeria.

The statement confimed the ship was back under the control of its master.

During the incident pirates stole more than 3000 tonnes of gas oil, equipment, cash and valuables from the ship.

The Manx registry says a report posted on a shipping website suggesting the ship is still under pirate control is wholly wrong.