Last week the Houthi in Yemen released 25 crew from the car carrier Galaxy Leader held for 14 months after the vessel was hijacked on 19 November 2023. The Galaxy Leader is owned by Ray Car Carriers and chartered by Japanese shipowner NYK.

“I welcome the release of the entire crew and sincerely hope for their swift return to their families and homes, as well as the return of the ship to her legitimate owner”, said Yukikazu Myochin, President of the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA). The association showed its appreciation to those involved in securing the seafarers release including Japanese Government, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

The association called for international laws to be enforced and free and safe navigation guaranteed. “The JSA firmly believes that it is unforgivable at any time to seize a merchant ship by force, and to detain innocent seafarers for an extended period, when the ship is on the High Seas where navigational freedom is assured under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We strongly hope that such a barbarous act does not reoccur and, through international coordination, free and safe navigation of merchant ships on international water is guaranteed,” Myochin stated.