Seized ‘Galaxy Leader’ ship in Yemen's Hudaydah port area - owner

The “Galaxy Leader” commercial ship was “illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter” on 19 November and is now in the Hudaydah Port area in Yemen, the vessel’s owner said on Monday, Reuters reports.

“All communications were subsequently lost with the vessel,” the Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd, owner of the pure car carrier, “Galaxy Leader”, said in a statement.

“The company, as a shipping concern, will not be commenting further on the political or geopolitical situation.”

Yemen’s Houthis released video footage on Monday showing armed men dropping from a helicopter and seizing a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea

The Bahamas-flagged “Galaxy Leader’s” crew is made up of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, Galaxy Maritime said. The vessel is chartered by Japan’s Nippon Yusen.

Owners and managers believe the seizure of this vessel represents a gross violation of freedom of passage for the world fleet and a serious threat to international trade

Galaxy Maritime said.

It added that the “key concern at this time is the safety and security of the 25 crew members currently being held by the perpetrators of this criminal act”.

READ: Iran denies involvement in Red Sea ship seizure by Yemen’s Houthis