Galaxy Leader crew remains captive one year on

On November 19, 2023, while travelling through the Red Sea, armed Houthis boarded the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier leased by the Japanese shipping corporation NYK, using a helicopter.

One year later, the crew of Galaxy Leader remains captive, despite repeated calls by the International Maritime Organization and other industry bodies to release them. In view of the one-year anniversary of the incident, Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, speaking in Hong Kong has stated that it seems incredible that a year has passed, and the crew of the Galaxy Leader are still being held hostage. Innocent seafarers and families who have had their lives irrevocably changed by geopolitical forces wholly out of their control.

The seafarers, some of whom have been at sea for nearly two years, have been held against their will only limited contact with their families, friends, and loved ones. This is unconscionable and must not be allowed to endure. 

… said Platten

Its 25-member crew includes nationals from the Philippines, Mexico, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria. The Houthis have used the Galaxy Leader for propaganda purposes, including allowing visitors to tour the ship.

Meanwhile, in August, DMW Secretary, Hans Leo Cacdac, confirmed that three crew members were hospitalized with malaria symptoms, raising further concerns. 

We are thinking of the seafarers and all of those affected at this time, and we continue to call for humanity to prevail and their immediate release. 

source : safety4sea