After Libyan militants seized the car carrier Morning Compass, the vessel was released from captivity on February 21, the ship’s charterer Korean shipping firm EUKOR Car Carriers informed.

A representative from the company said that the 6,500 CEU vessel was released around 8 am local time, and is currently sailing as per its original schedule.

The twelve Filipino seafarers onboard the 2013-built ship were reported as safe.

EUKOR Car Carriers added that it was “unable to make specific comments at this point.”

Morning Compass, loaded with some 5000 cars, was on its way from South Korea’s Incheon port to Libyan port of Misurata when it was stopped by the Libyan forces and escorted to the country’s Ras Al Hilal port.

Media reports earlier indicated that the ship was intercepted because it was sailing in a no-entry military zone.