A tug and its 10-man crew have been released in Equatorial Guinea after suffering a mistaken arrest for the hijacking of a Boskalis heavylift ship.

The 300-gt Charis (built 2006), operated by C&I Leasing of Lagos, Nigeria, was suspected of involvement in the violent seizing of the 76,000-dwt Blue Marlin (built 2011) earlier this month, The Nation reported.

The tug was held on 7 May but freed last week following the intervention of Nigeria’s ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Toko Ali Gongulong, and defence attache Olaseyi Oladipo.