Fingerprints from the man matched those of a hijacker involved in the attack on the 13,300–dwt Marida Marguerite (built 2008) in 2010.
The pirate was detained in a reception centre for asylum seekers in Osnabruck, police said.
Last year, pirate middleman Mohammad Shibin received 12 lift sentences after being convicted in April on 15 charges including piracy, hostage taking, kidnapping and conspiracy.
He was paid $30,000 to $50,000 in cash for his negotiating services, including talks over Marida Marguerite and a seized US yacht on which four US citizens died, according to a federal indictment.
The ship was operated at the time by Marida Tankers.
