ForestWave report that today that contact has been made with its crew taken hostage off Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on 21 April.

The Dutch operator can confirm all eleven seafarers are "alive and together".

"ForestWave continues doing everything possible to secure the earliest release of its seafarers which remains its absolute priority," the company said.

"The families of those being held are being informed regularly about the situation of their loved ones."

It had earlier said that gunmen boarded the 10,600-dwt FWN Rapide (built 2005) on Saturday morning as it prepared to enter Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Two seafarers have remained on board and are safe and unhurt. They have moved FWN Rapide to a safe position.

A crewman believed kidnapped by Nigerian pirates was found hiding on the ship late Monday night during a search of the vessel.