Somali pirates have released the MV Syria Star due to the intervention of Puntland security forces, the European Union's anti-piracy task force says, Press TV reported.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines flagged cargo ship, carrying sugar, was sailing west in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor through the waters of the Gulf of Aden when it was seized on Thursday, August 5.
The MV Syria Star reported to the navies that she was under attack from pirates who had climbed on board and fired shots at the crew, EU NAVFOR reported. Helicopters were immediately dispatched to the vessel and tried to establish communications with the Syria Star, but to no avail.
The pirates left the ship, with 24 crew members - 22 Syrians and two Egyptians - of their own accord, sailing off in one of the ship's rescue boats, it was reported on Saturday.
The waters off the coast of Somalia remain dangerous due to piracy, despite the presence of foreign navies on patrol.