The Egyptian navy is said to have discharged the Iranian crude cargo on a UAE-owned suezmax detained there since December.

AIS data shows the 163,000-dwt Sea Shark (built 1991) at anchorage south of Suez on 25 May.

It had been moved to the Ain Sukhna terminal last week, a source close to the crew told TradeWinds.

The source said the cargo was unloaded and "many items" stolen from the vessel.

Five Ukrainians from the crew of 31 have now arrived home, however, the TSN news agency said.

Another four Ukrainians should be back on Tuesday.

Another eight seafarers were at a military base at Ain Sukhna. The date of their release is unknown.

"The hardest period took place when the crew was broken into groups and locked in premises. They banned free movement along the vessel and already began to use force," one crewman told TNS.

The Kiev Post reported that all Ukrainian seafarers have left a naval base and were preparing to return to Ukraine, according to the head of Ukraine’s foreign ministry’s department of consular support, Vasyl Kyrylych.

“All Ukrainian seamen from the Sea Shark have left the Egyptian Navy base. Now there are preparatory formal arrangements for returning to Ukraine. And the captain is waiting for the consul at the embassy,” he told Interfax-Ukraine.

The tanker was held in December after drifting into Egypt's waters.

Egypt had demanded that the seafarers unload their crude cargo due to a possible leak risk.

It is owned by Al Safeena Al Bahria Shipping of the UAE.

The crew of 31 includes Ukrainians, Russians, an Azerbaijani and 11 Filipinos, Sri Lankans and Indians.