London - The families of the two Britons among the 25-member crew of the Sirius Star tanker said Wednesday they hoped the two men would be "home safely very soon."

The two men were named as chief engineer Peter French and James Grady, Second Officer on the vessel captured by pirates off the East African coast.

Earlier Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for the immediate release of the crew.

Speaking during a visit to Beirut, Miliband told the BBC that Britain's Royal Navy was involved in efforts to resolve the situation.

"The Royal Navy is co-ordinating the European response as well as contributing to the international mission there. Obviously, the problem of piracy around Somalia is a grave danger to the stability in the region," he said. (dpa)