News

On Nov 14, 2024, at 2.45 a.m., the 'Nus' was boarded by five perpetrators, armed with metal rods, about 4.2 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Cula, in pos. 1° 2.73' N 103° 38 E . Nothing was reported stolen.

This week, the crew of the hijacked 'Galaxy Leader' mark one full year in Houthi captivity near the port of Hodeidah. The ship has been held in Houthi custody since the group's commando forces boarded and seized it on Nov 19, 2023. As motivation for the hijacking, the Houthis cited the Israeli-linked ownership interests of the ship's commercial operator, UK-based Ray Car Carriers. The militants diverted the vessel to Hodeidah and opened it to the public, making it a popular tourist attraction and dance-hall destination. The crew have been living aboard the 'Galaxy Leader' throughout their ordeal. 17 of them are from the Philippines, and Manila has repeatedly called for their release. The remainder of the crew includes three Ukrainians, two Bulgarians, two Mexicans and one Romanian. In August, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs reported that several of the Filipino crew members were experiencing significant health issues, including symptoms of malaria. "It seems incredible that a year has passed, and the crew of the Galaxy Leader are still being held hostage. Innocent seafarers and families who have had their lives irrevocably changed by geopolitical forces wholly out of their control. "The seafarers, some of whom have been at sea for nearly two years, have been held against their will only limited contact with their families, friends, and loved ones. This is unconscionable and must not be allowed to endure. We are thinking of the seafarers and all of those affected at this time, and we continue to call for humanity to prevail and their immediate release," said the International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General Guy Platten.

On Nov 13, 2024, at 12.12 a.m., the 'Metro Ionian' was boarded by an unknown number of perpetrators about 3.6 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Cula in pos. 1° 2.6' N 103° 39.1 E . The intruders stole engine spares and escaped. No inuries were reported.

Taiwan has rejected allegations by China on Nov. 13, that it turned down requests by the “Yu Zhou Qi Hang” to seek shelter in Keelung Port before the typhoon hit. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) alleged the crew had asked to return to Keelung before Typhoon Kong-rey arrived, but Taiwan’s Maritime and Port Bureau replied they had made no such request, The crew wanted to leave Keelung before the typhoon and decided on their direction by themselves, the bureau said. Since the ship was carrying at least 290 tons of oil products, efforts were launched to prevent an oil spill from affecting the New Taipei coastline. However, since Nov. 2, several attempts at pumping out the oil were abandoned due to rough weather. The Ministry of Transportation wanted a new try to go ahead on Nov. 14, with the task to be completed within two weeks. The necessary equipment has been affixed to the “Yu Zhou Qi Hang,” but the approach of another typhoon, Usagi, might complicate the work. The Central Weather Administration was expected to issue sea warnings for the storm early on Nov 14, with land warnings likely to follow later in the day at the earliest.

Suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi terrorists targeted the 'Anadolu S', which was navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden en route from Alexandria to Qasim, though no injuries or damage were reported, authorities confirmed on Nov 18, 2024. According to the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational task force led by the US, the bulk carrier was first contacted via VHF radio by an individual claiming to represent Yemeni authorities, who demanded the vessel change course. The vessel did not comply with the order and continued its transit. Later, the ship’s captain observed a missile landing near the vessel in the southern Red Sea, close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the night of Nov 17, 2024, approximately 30 miles west of the city of Mocha. A second incident followed on Nov 18, with another missile landing near the vessel about 70 miles southeast of Aden in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel and crew were safe and proceeding to the next port of call with an ETA as of Nov 23.