Nave Andromeda is seen in Portishead, Britain. Huw Gibby/Reuters

The crew of a Greek-operated oil tanker in the English channel that was stormed by British special forces on Sunday are safe after what the government said was a suspected hijacking, a minister said on Monday.

Troops from the Special Boat Service, a navy special forces unit whose headquarters is just a few miles away from where the vessel began showing signs of distress, boarded the Nave Andromeda near the Isle of Wight off southern England.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky that the crew were safe and that the police and armed forces had done an exemplary job.

Reuters