Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group has released the crew of the Galaxy Leader over a year after seizing the vessel off Yemen’s coast.
According to Al Masirah TV, the crew members were handed over to Oman in coordination with Palestinian militant group Hamas following a Gaza ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports. This move follows the announcement of Houthi official Mohamed Al-Buhayti, who stated in an interview a few days ago that the group intended to free the vessel.
The Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged car carrier chartered by Japan’s Nippon Yusen, was seized on November 19, 2023, during the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It was brought to Hodeidah, a port in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen.
IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, has welcomed the release of the crew of the MV Galaxy Leader saying that he is grateful for all the Member States, regional entities, and international partners whose steadfast support and strategic engagement were pivotal in securing the crew’s freedom, and to ensuring their wellbeing.
I welcome the release of the 25-member crew of the Galaxy Leader, who have endured over a year of captivity since they were taken hostage in November 2023 while transiting the Red Sea. This is a moment of profound relief for all of us – not only for the crew and their families, but also to the wider maritime community.
… the Secretary-General commented, adding that this breakthrough is a testament to the power of collective diplomacy and dialogue, recognizing that innocent seafarers must not become collateral victims in wider geopolitical tensions. It is also a return to operations in the Red Sea as we have been accustomed to, and upholding of the freedom of navigation.
