Five Indian seafarers have been allowed to return home by the Indonesian navy.

The group was part of a crew of 21 held on the 106,000-dwt tanker Afra Oak (built 2003) off Batam since February over alleged illegal anchoring.

The Times of India cited a letter by the five seafarers to the ministry of external affairs and the Indonesian authorities, which said: "We, Afra Oak crew, understand the cause of delay due to the procedures to be followed for crew release."