Shipping industry calls for release of Galaxy Leader crew still held captive

Overview

Today - Monday 19 February 2024 – marks the three-month anniversary since the Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader and its 25 seafarers in the Red Sea. The vessel, a roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier, was seized on the 19 November. The maritime industry has joined together from around the world to express their concern for the seafarers who have been held hostage, and call on the Houthis to release the crew of the Galaxy Leader.

“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.

“All efforts must be made by international organisations and States to secure the release of the seafarers.”

“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”.

Please kindly see below the full list of co-signatories to this statement.

   
 Asian Shipowners Association (ASA)  Asociación de Navieros Españoles (ANAVE)
 Yuichi Sonoda, Secretary General  Elena Seco, Director General
   
 Bahamas Shipowners Association  BIMCO
 Domenico Rognoni, Chairman  David Loosley, Secretary General & CEO
   
 Chamber of Marine Commerce  Chamber of Shipping of America
 Bruce Burrows, President & CEO  Kathy J Metcalf, President
   
Confitarma    Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
 Mario Zanetti, President  Kelly Craighead, President & CEO
   
 Cyprus Shipping Chamber  Danish Shipping
 Thomas Kazakos, Director General  Anne H. Steffensen, Director General & CEO
   
 European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA)  FONASBA (The Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents)
 Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General  Javier Dulce, President

 
 IFSMA

InterManager

 Jim Scorer, Secretary General  Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General