Shipping industry urges Houthis to release Galaxy Leader and its crew
On the three-month anniversary of the Red Sea attacks, the global shipping community called for the release of the Galaxy Leader and its 25-member crew held hostage by Yemen-based rebel group, Houthi.
PHOTO: NYK Line-chartered Galaxy Leader vessel. FleetMon
International shipping organisations, including World Shipping Council (WSC), BIMCO, European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH), have released a joint statement addressed to the Houthis.
The statement calls for the release of Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) Line-chartered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), Galaxy Leader, along with its 25-member crew held by the rebel group.
“The 25 seafarers who make up the crew of the Galaxy Leader are innocent victims of the ongoing aggression against world shipping, and their plight is a major concern as the merchant shipping community continues to come under attack,” the statement reads. “It is abhorrent that seafarers were seized by military forces and that they have been kept from their families and loved ones for too long. All 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader must be released now”.
The Houthis seized the vessel on 19 November 2023. The vessel was travelling from Korfez, Turkey to Pipavav, India, when it was hijacked near the Yemeni port city of Hodeida, according to NYK Line.
The hijacking also marked the Houthis' first attack against commercial ships in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait between Yemen and Africa.
Since then, over 41 vessels have faced missile strikes, near misses or threats from the Houthis, according to marine risk management firm Ambrey. This includes ships owned by major shipping companies, including A.P. Moller-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and CMA CGM.
Commercial ships avoid Red Sea as attacks enter fourth month
Since the attacks started, over 500 container ships have been diverted or are planning to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez Canal route to avoid Red Sea attacks as shipowners and operators prioritise the safety of their crews. These include vessels owned and operated by MSC, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, Wan Hai Lines, Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM, Evergreen and Yang Ming.
ENGINE reported that some tanker operators such as Hafnia, Torm and Stena Bulk have also halted marine traffic towards the Red Sea, while some others are gradually opting for the Cape of Good Hope route. On an average, 15 tankers/day passed through the Suez Canal in January, down from 22/day in December. A record low of 8-9 tankers/day transited between 26-27 January, according to IMF's PortWatch data.
The Red Sea situation remains “too dangerous to cross the Suez Canal and therefore we will maintain our diversion around the Cape of Good Hope. The safety of our crew is our first priority, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate through these circumstances,” Hapag Lloyd said on 1 February.
By Konica Bhatt
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