Rescued fishing vessel crew members arrived in Tanzania

The 26 rescued Taiwan fishing vessel Xufu 1 crew members, transferred by a Chinese navy warship, arrived in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania on Saturday morning.

All crew members looked well and were transported immediately to hotel for medical examines by a Chinese medical team waiting there.

They crew members have also received medical and psychological examines when they were on the Chinese navy warship for three days after freed by Somalia pirates.

An official with China's Ministry of Foreign affairs said the Chinese navy warship sent a helicopter to airlift the crew members to the warship after they were freed, due to the difficulties caused by strong wind and seawave at the rescuing spot. Chinese ambassador to Tanzania Lv Youqing expressed his gratitude to the Tanzania government for its help during the transferring and Customs clearance process.

The Vietnamese crew members were received by officials with Vietnam ambassy to Tanzania after arriving at the port. The Chinese crew members were expected to fly back home on Monday.

Xufu 1, with 13 crew members from the Chinese mainland, one from Taiwan and 12 from Vietnam, was hijacked by Somali pirates in December 2010 off the Madagascar coast and taken to Somalia.