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The Houthis on Jan 15 rejected a call from the UN Security Council demanding the "immediate release" of the 'Rwabee'. At a meeting on Jan 12, the United Arab Emirates had urged members of the UN Security Council to adopt "a firm position" against the Houthi rebels. The seizure of the ship was an “act of piracy” denounced the permanent representative of the Emirates to the United Nations. The vessel, with 11 crew members on board, carried equipment for the construction of a hospital, Saudi Arabia said. For a rebel government official in Yemen, the "ship did not contain dates and games for children but weapons intended for extremist groups." When seized, the vessel was coming from Socotra, a strategic territory controlled by separatists from the south, close to the United Arab Emirates.

The Master of the 'Mid Eagle' reported to Kandla port control that the duty personnel had sighted three perpetrators on board in position 22 46 47 N, 070 03 40 E, at the outer anchorage of Kandla on Jan 3, 2022, at 5.45 p.m. The Master raised the alarm and made a PA announcement. The perpetrators immediately fled the vessel and escaped. A boat was also sighted at the port side of the vessel. A thorough search was conducted onboard the vessel by the crew. A total of 40 properties/stores were found missing from the main deck. The Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS 'C-152' was deployed to investigate the incident on Jan 4 at 06.30 a.m. The ship berthed in Qasim on Jan 8.

On Jan 7, 2022, it was reported that the 'Crystal Confidence' was boarded by perpetrators while being berthed in the port of Pertigalete, Venezuela. The perpetrators stole a lifeboat engine and other equipment of the ship. There was no report of any injury to the crew.

The 'Largo Evolution' was boarded by robbers, who stole an outboard engine and a petrol tank on Jan 9, 2022, at around 5 a.m. in the port of Monrovia. The robbers escaped from the vessel without being seen. All the crew were safe.

The 11 crew members of the 'Rwabee', seized by Iran-backed Huthi rebels, were so far fine, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Jan 13, while negotiations were ongoing for their release. Seven of the ship Rwabee's crew are Indian and the others come from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. The rebels claimed they seized the 'Rwabee' in Yemeni waters with military equipment on board. In a statement to the United Nations, the UAE government denounced the hijacking, calling it an "act of piracy."