Brussels - Pirates have freed the Belgian ship and its crew, some two months after the ship was seized in the Indian Ocean, a spokesman for Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy said in Brussels said Sunday.

The crew of the Pompei were in good health, according to the government's crisis centre. No further details were provided.

Belgian radio meanwhile reported that a ransom was paid.

Somali pirates seized vessel and its Dutch captain and crew - two Belgians, a Croat and three Filipinos - April 18.

The Pompei had been en route to the Seychelles. In the hands of the pirates, it sailed toward Somalia. (dpa)