Venezuela to soon release international crew of seized oil ship

A Venezuelan Coast Guard boat sits next to the 285-foot survey ship Teknik Perdana docked near the shore in Margarita Island, Venezuela, Sunday Oct. 13, 2013. The U.S.-chartered oil exploration ship seized by the Venezuelan navy in Caribbean waters disputed with neighboring Guyana arrived at Venezuela's Margarita Island on Sunday. Venezuelan authorities said the ship's 36 crew members, including five U.S. citizens and two Brazilians, would be held on board while an investigation continued. (AP Photo/Gustavo Granado) (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by the Diario El Sol de Margarita, a ship carrying five American oil workers, left, arrives to the shore in Margarita Island, Venezuela, Sunday Oct. 13, 2013. The 285-foot survey research vessel, sailing under a Panamanian flag, was conducting a seismic study under contract for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. on Thursday when it was detained by an armed Venezuelan navy vessel and ordered to sail under escort to Margarita Island, which is part of Venezuela. The U.S. chartered vessel was intercepted in disputed waters off the coast of Guyana, a move that threatens to revive a decades-old territorial dispute between South America's biggest oil producer and one of the region's poorest nations(.AP Photo/Cristian Zerpa, Diario El Sol de Margarita) (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by the Diario El Sol de Margarita, a ship carrying five American oil workers sits docked on the shore in Margarita Island, Venezuela, Sunday Oct. 13, 2013. The 285-foot survey research vessel, sailing under a Panamanian flag, was conducting a seismic study under contract for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. on Thursday when it was detained by an armed Venezuelan navy vessel and ordered to sail under escort to Margarita Island, which is part of Venezuela. The U.S. chartered vessel was intercepted in disputed waters off the coast of Guyana, a move that threatens to revive a decades-old territorial dispute between South America's biggest oil producer and one of the region's poorest nations(.AP Photo/Cristian Zerpa, Diario El Sol de Margarita) (The Associated Press)

The Texas company that chartered an oil research ship seized last week by Venezuela said it expects the vessel and its international crew to be released soon.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. spokesman John Christiansen says Venezuelan authorities treated those aboard the Panamanian-flagged ship in a "respectful manner" and says the vessel "will reportedly be released in the near future." He declined to provide additional details on Tuesday.

The ship and its 36-man crew have been anchored since Sunday off Margarita Island in the Caribbean. The crew includes five Americans and workers from Russia, Indonesia and Brazil.

The ship was intercepted by Venezuela's navy while operating in disputed waters off the coast of Guyana.

Diplomats of the two countries will meet Thursday in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss the incident.