A year after the MV Galaxy Leader was hijacked by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea, the crew of the ship has been released after 14 months of detention, according to various reports. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the release of the crew of the MV Galaxy Leader, after more than a year in captivity.
Tuesday November 19, 2023, marks the date of the seizure of the crew of the Galaxy Leader.
The 25-member crew of the Bahamas-flagged vehicles carrier Galaxy Leader have been taken hostage in November 2023 while transiting the Red Sea.
There were various calls from the shipping industry on States with influence to assist in this matter.
The members of the UN’s Security Council recalled the Houthi attack and seizure of the MV Galaxy Leader on 19 November 2023 and demanded the immediate release of the vessel and its 25 crew members.
Many participants at the Hong Kong Global Maritime Trade Summit also took the opportunity to highlight the plight of the Galaxy Leader crew by Yemeni insurgents.
It is abhorrent, they said, that seafarers were seized by such forces and that they have been kept from their families and loved ones for this long.
The reported release of the crew is one development that came in the wake of the recent ceasefire deal that has been reached between Israel and Hamas which will halt months of fighting.
The deal announced recently would see a pause in fighting with a view to eventually wind down a 15-month war that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.
Trump celebrated the cease-fire agreement last week, with the US president taking credit for the breakthrough in negotiations that is poised to establish a path to end the war.
“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signalled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones,” he added.
Arsenio Dominguez, IMO Secretary-General, issued the following statement on the release of the Galaxy Leader crew: “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.
“I am 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.
“Today’s 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.
“IMO will continue to rigorously uphold its commitment to the safety of seafarers worldwide, who continue to face risks in their essential work.”
Guy Platten, International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General, following the release of the Galaxy Leader crew, said: “We welcome the news of the Galaxy Leader crew being released today and that they will be reunited with their families after being held in captivity since the 19 November 2023. The fact that the innocent crew were held for over 430 days is unacceptable and a truly dreadful situation.
“Nobody should have to endure such an ordeal, and we call on all nations to support our seafarers and shipping so that this does not happen again.
“ICS deplores any and all attacks on shipping as they are a breach of international law and threaten the lives of innocent seafarers and the safety of merchant shipping.”
