Somali pirates holding a Spanish trawler took three crew members back to the boat on Friday, one day after moving them ashore, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said.
"The prime minister of Somalia has informed us that the three hostages who yesterday were moved ashore are back on board. Within the complexity of this difficult situation which we are all living, we have this news," he told a news conference.
"What does this mean? It means we must remain calm. Kidnappings are complicated situations, with highs and lows, they are very difficult and stressful. But we must remain confident and calm," he added.
"If we remain clam and confident I am certain that what all Spaniards what, what the families want, what the government wants -- that the hostages can return to their homes safe and sound and this kidnapping ends satisfactorily."
Moratinos said he had spoken to Somalian Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali by telephone twice over the past 24 hours. Sharmarke vowed to do everything he could to secure all 36 crew members of the seized fishing trawler, he added.
The pirates fired into the air and exploded a grenade in the sea on Thursday as they moved the three Spanish crew members onshore from the Alakrana which is being held off the coast of Somalia.
The transfer of the three to dry land came as the pirates reportedly threatened to start killing hostages.
The pirates seized the boat and its 36 crew members -- 16 Spaniards, eight Indonesians as well as others from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Senegal and the Seychelles -- on October 2 in the Indian Ocean.
They are demanding four million dollars (2.6 million euros) in ransom as well as the release of two suspected pirates who were captured and brought to Spain over their alleged role in the seizure of the Alakrana.
Two Spanish frigates remain on watch off Somalia.
