The Iranian and Sri Lankan seafarers were set free over the weekend.

It is understood a $2m ransom was paid to end their ordeal, which started when the 1,066-teu Albedo (built 1993) was hijacked in November 2010.

Of the initial crew of 23, seven Pakistani nationals were freed last August after a $2.9m ransom was handed over.

Five crew members died along with seven pirates when the Albedo sank in 2013, but the remaining 11 survived having been shifted to a fishing vessel.

Peter Swift, chairman of the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian ResponseProgramme, said in a statement:"After 1288 days incaptivity we are delighted for them and their families after the terribleordeal and hardship that they have suffered. At the same time our thoughts arealso with the family of the Indian seafarer who died in captivity and thefamilies of the four Sri Lankan seafarers who are reported as missing after thevessel sank in July 2013."