Indian crew aboard Iranian oil tanker released

New Delhi: The Indian Captain and three other Indian crew members aboard an Iranian oil supertanker were on Thursday released of all charges by authorities in Gibraltar, even as the United States Department of Justice made a last-minute claim on the vessel.

"I am grateful and thankful for my release. And I am grateful to all who have facilitated my release in my legal team," the Indian Captain of the Grace 1 tanker said in a statement.

The arrested crew members -- the Master, Chief Officer and two Second Mates -- were aboard the Panama-flagged supertanker that was detained off Europa Point in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on the Spanish coast, last month.

A spokesman for Gibraltar's government also confirmed that police proceedings against four members of the crew had ended.