⁍ Troops from Britain’s elite naval special forces unit boarded the Greek-operated Nave Andromeda near the Isle of Wight.

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⁍ The master of the ship said he was concerned about the safety of his crew.

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⁍ Sources with knowledge of the situation aboard the vessel said it was not a hijacking or hostage taking.

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– British special forces stormed an oil tanker in the English Channel yesterday after the master feared for the safety of his crew. Troops from the Special Boat Service, Britain’s elite naval special forces unit, boarded the Greek-operated Nave Andromeda near the Isle of Wight off southern England after the master of the ship said he was concerned about the safety of his crew. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel authorized the armed forces to board the tanker “to safeguard life and secure a ship that was subject to suspected hijacking,” the defense ministry said. Sources with knowledge of the situation aboard the vessel said it was not a hijacking or hostage taking. The seven stowaways, who boarded in Lagos, had become threatening towards the crew, the sources said. ‘The UK authorities had been advised by the Master that stowaways had been found on board and that he was concerned for the safety of the crew due to the increasingly hostile behavior of the stowaways,’ Athens-based Navios Tanker Management said.Happily no crew members were injured and all are safe and well,’ it said. ‘Navios Tanker Management wish to thank all the UK Authorities involved in this operation for their timely and professional response,’ it said.