Elhiblu 1 was handed over by the Maltese armed forces to police at the Velatta port.

Three migrants who are believed to have led the hijacking were handcuffed and taken away in a police vehicle.

Interior Minister Michael Farrugia was also present at the port. 

The vessel had been hijacked on Wednesday by migrants rescued at sea who did not want to be returned to Libya.

The Palau-flagged tanker embarked last week from a shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul before being hijacked after rescuing 108 migrants at sea. 

The 52-meter ship had a six-person crew, including a Turkish captain, four Indians, and one Libyan. They were all declared safe.

The vessel concerned is a bunkering tanker according to Marine Traffic -- an open webpage providing real-time information on the movements of ships. 

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic