The two Danes and four Filipinos are now insafe surroundings after the payment of a ransom, according to Shipcraft, themanager of the 1,800–dwt vessel (built 1989).

"It is with very great happiness andrelief we can inform that our colleagues finally have been released. Thepast more than two years have been extremely traumatic and inhuman for our crewand their families, and we very much look forward to having our colleagues backhome," said Shipcraft boss Claus Bech.

"I havejust talked to the families of the seamen. It was a very emotional moment, andit goes without saying that the happy news was received with great joy."

Bech said he will now head out to meet the men at an undisclosed location.

The vessel was attacked by pirates east of the Gulf of Aden on 12 January,2011.

Leopardwas damaged during the assault and the gunmen let it drift, instead takinghostages.

In a videoreleased by their captors six months into the crisis, the chief mate pleaded:  “Please help us, help us before we die. Tellthe company to pay so we can get home.”

The creware now being helped by a team of doctors and psychologists.

"The first evaluations are that our colleagues, considering the circumstances,are ok. However, it is important to us that they receive the best possiblemedical assistance now, and as soon as they have been thoroughly examined andhave received the doctor’s acceptance, they will be brought home to theirfamilies," Bech said.

The men were allowed to talk to their families on a few occasions during their ordeal.

Bechadded: “The traumatic and inhuman conditions our colleagues have experiencedhave of course affected them deeply. Now our main focus is to ensure they get agood reintegration.”

Shipcraftsaid it has worked closely with Danish authorities and kidnapping experts to end the impasse.

"Thekidnapping has been going on for more than two years. We are a very smallcompany and the pirates’ expectations to the ransom have been completelyunrealistic," Bech said.

He saidhe could not divulge the size of the ransom because of futurekidnapping situations, but did say the company had paid “considerable millions,substantially more than previous kidnappings where Danish citizens have beeninvolved.”