16 Special Boat Service (SBS) commandos boarded the Nave Andromeda after reports of stowaways.
Authorities did an "exemplary job" rescuing the crew onboard a tanker hijacked off the Isle of Wight, Matt Hancock has said.
Seven people have been detained after about 16 Special Boat Service (SBS) commandos boarded the Nave Andromeda on Sunday night and regained control of the vessel.
"I can confirm the crew are safe and the operation to secure the vessel concluded successfully," Mr Hancock told Sky News.
He added: "I would like to pay tribute to the police and armed forces who did such an exemplary job… this is what they train for and this is what they're there for, to protect our country and they did that to such a high standard."
Hampshire Police received reports that a "number of stowaways" were on board and had made "verbal threats towards the crew" soon after 10am on Sunday as the ship headed towards Southampton, having set sail from Lagos in Nigeria.
The raid on the tanker was authorised by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel in response to the "suspected hijacking" and after a tense 10-hour stand-off, the MoD said.
The SBS and two Royal Navy Merlin helicopters were involved, along with two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters.
Source: Sky News
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