Victoria - Seven Seychellois who were held hostage by Somali pirates for 80 days flew in to Victoria on Tuesday, a day after their release was announced.
Their ship, the Indian Ocean Explorer, was hijacked by marauding pirates between March 28 and 31 this year as it was sailing from the archipelago's Assumption island.
The Seychelles government announced their release on Monday, once the seven had reached Kenya and President James Michel met the former hostages at the airport Tuesday in Victoria.
Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport Joel Morgan said the ship itself was still anchored off the coast of central Somalia.
Morgan, who led the negotiations team, denied rumours that his government might have swapped some suspected Somali pirates it had been holding for the Indian Ocean Explorer's crew.
"I can confirm to you that there was no swap and I can say that it is the firm policy of the government of the Seychelles not to pay ransoms for acts of criminality," Morgan said.
He said he and his team of negotiators were still working on the release of the Serenity, a catamaran with three Seychellois crew which Somali pirates have held since late February.
"The negotiations are progressing well. We had a bit of hiccup 10 days ago... but our negotiators believe that we are making good progress now," Morgan added.
The Indian Ocean archipelago has been badly hit by rampant Somali piracy, which threatens two of the small nation's main sources of income, tourism and tuna fishing.
According to Ecoterra International, an environmental NGO which monitors piracy and other illegal maritime activities in the region, Somali pirates still hold at least 14 ships as well as more than 200 seafarers.