Crew members of the car carrier Galaxy Reader were released on 22 January after 430 days. The vessel’s 25-member crew, consisting of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, was captured on 19 November 2023, when armed Houthis stormed the ship by helicopter.
Following the release of the Galaxy Leader crew, Guy Platten, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Secretary General, 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.”
Platten noted: “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.”
