An Italian shipping company and Italian media say Somali pirates have released an Italian merchant ship and its crew seized seven months ago.

The MV Rosalia D'Amato had been sailing from Brazil to Iran with a cargo of soybeans when pirates commandeered the boat April 21 in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Oman.

The boat's operator, Naples-based Perseveranza Navigazione, says the crew appears to be well.

Italy's La Repubblica newspaper reports that a ransom was paid for the release of the ship and its 22 crew members.

In the past, pirates have hijacked ships and anchored them off the Somali coast until a ransom was paid.

Somali pirates are currently believed to be holding at least ten ships and and more than 240 crew members hostage.