IMO chief calls crew release, positive step for freedom of navigation in Red Sea

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has described the release of the MV Galaxy Leader crew as a return to operating in the Red Sea. 

The IMO chief has made the remarks in a statement, following the release of the 25-member crew of the MV Galaxy Leader, who had been held hostage for over a year, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

“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 for the wider maritime community,” the statement noted. 

He acknowledged the contributions of Member States, regional entities, and international partners, whose steadfast support and strategic engagement were crucial in securing the crew’s freedom and ensuring their well-being.

“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,” Dominguez emphasized. 

The IMO chief reinstated the organization’s commitment to enhancing the safety of seafarers worldwide, who continue to face significant risks in their essential work.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have released the crew of the MV Galaxy Leader more than a year after seizing the Bahamas-flagged vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast, according to Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV on January 22. The crew was handed over to Oman "in coordination" with a recently established ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

The 25-member crew consists of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, as reported by the vessel's owner, Galaxy Maritime. 

Since November 2023, the Houthis have conducted over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, claiming their actions were in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel's military operations in Gaza. These attacks have resulted in the sinking of two vessels, the seizure of another, and the deaths of at least four seafarers.

By Aghakazim Guliyev