The Asso 22 and its 11-member crew are expected to arrive in Sicily on Monday; ship had been taken by Libyan authorities on March 17.
An Italian tug boat seized by Libyan authorities more than a month ago has been released and was heading home on Saturday with its crew of 11, Italian officials said.
The crew of the Asso 22 were pronounced to be in good health by doctors from an Italian navy patrol vessel that made contact with the tug-boat early Saturday.
The Asso 22 was seized in Tripoli on March 17 at a time when Italy and other European nations were stepping up their condemnation of Muammar Gaddafi for alleged attacks by his forces on Libyan civilians.
The Italian Defence Ministry welcomed the release of the Asso 22, which was expected to arrive in Sicily on Monday.