GALAXY LEADER

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Crew held in captivity one year now

This week, the crew of the hijacked 'Galaxy Leader' mark one full year in Houthi captivity near the port of Hodeidah. The ship has been held in Houthi custody since the group's commando forces boarded and seized it on Nov 19, 2023. As motivation for the hijacking, the Houthis cited the Israeli-linked ownership interests of the ship's commercial operator, UK-based Ray Car Carriers. The militants diverted the vessel to Hodeidah and opened it to the public, making it a popular tourist attraction and dance-hall destination. The crew have been living aboard the 'Galaxy Leader' throughout their ordeal. 17 of them are from the Philippines, and Manila has repeatedly called for their release. The remainder of the crew includes three Ukrainians, two Bulgarians, two Mexicans and one Romanian. In August, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs reported that several of the Filipino crew members were experiencing significant health issues, including symptoms of malaria. "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. 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," said the International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General Guy Platten.

Red Cross boarded hijacked ship

A team of the International Red Cross has visited the 25 crew members still on board of the 'Galaxy Leader' in the port city of Hodeidah on Sep 25, coordinated with local authorities, in order to monitor conditions of detention and the treatment of detainees. The organization is trying to facilitate links between the detainees and their families or diplomatic representations of their respective home countries. They were from Bulgaria, the Philippines, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico. Several of the 17 Filipino crew members were experiencing significant health issues, showing symptoms of malaria. Report with photo: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/red-cross-visits-crew-of-hijacked-israel-linked-ship-for-2nd-time-since-being-detained-in-yemen/

Ongoing efforts to release ailing crew

The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has reported ongoing efforts to secure the release of 17 Filipino crew members of the 'Galaxy Leader'. Three sailors were showing malaria symptoms and have been hospitalized. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac provided updates during the News Forum in Quezon City on Aug 3, stating that the three ailing crew members were receiving medical care in a hospital, while the remaining 14 crew members were still on board the vessel, being fed and given their basic necessities on board the ship. The release of three hospitalized crew members was under negotiation, with the Department of Foreign Affairs engaging with governments that have communication channels with the Houthi terrorists and coordinating with the DMW for information and assistance. The Honorary Consul to Yemen Mohammad Saleh Al-Jamal was also seeking assistance from the Sana’a authorities for the release of Filipino crew members on humanitarian grounds due to their deteriorating health. He was planning to visit the 'Galaxy Leader', his first visit in about three months.