The 'Galaxy Leader' was hijacked by Yemen’s Houthis militia in the Red Sea about 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah on Nov 18, 2023. The ship’s last AIS signal was received at 11.40 a.m. UTC, 350 nautical miles north-northwest of Hodeidah, before entering the higher risk areas of the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. The ship was en route from Izmit to Pipavav and was hijacked in the belief that she was owned by an Israeli company. The ship is registered under a British company, which is partially owned by the Israeli tycoon Abraham Ungar who goes by Rami. He is the founder of Ray Shipping Ltd. The vessel was chartereed a Japanese company at the time of the hijacking. There were 25 crew members of various nationalities on board, including Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Filipinos and Mexicans. Japan was directly approaching the Houthi rebels who have hijacked the ship and on Nov 20 was also communicating with Israel seeking to secure the release of the 'Galaxy Leader'.
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SUKRU OKAN
According too the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, the crew of the Russian warship 'Vassily Bykov' stopped the 'Sukru Okan' on Aug 13, 2023, in the Black Sea with warning shots. The ship had not responded to requests to inspect the cargo. A boarding team was dropped off by helicopter, which searched the ship wihout results, and it continued on its way to Ismaijl. So far there has been no confirmation of the incident from Turkey or any other party. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1690824074484699136
OLYMPIA
In the night of Oct 6-7, 2023, the ship's bell of the 'Olympia' was stolen, while the ship was was moored on the banks of the Moselle at the Peter-Altmeier-Quay in Koblenz below the Baldwin Bridge. The copper bell on the upper deck, which had been secured with a lock and was weighing approximately 50 kg, was taken by previously unknown perpetrators and must have been transported away from the ship at great expense. The perpetrators further broke into the interior of the ship and stole drinks bottles and a tablet. The ship left the port again on Oct 8, headed to Saarburg. Witnesses who can provide information about the crime or the perpetrators were asked to contact the Koblenz water police station on 0261-972860. Report with photos: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/117719/5620241
SHENGHAI2
The Liberian Coast Guard has rescued 23 crew members from the 'Shenghai 2' after receiving an alert on July 23, 2023, that the vessel had been hijacked with six Chinese and 17 Sierra Leonean sailors on board. The fishing vessel 'Aliman' was also attacked in the same area on July 22. In collaboration with Cote d’Ivoire, the 'Shenghai 2' was spotted crossing over to Liberia from Sierra Leone. A 28-hour operation was carried out from July 23-24, with two Liberian Coast Guard boats sent to intercept the hijacked vessel, which was boarded. Although the pirates fired on the Coast Guard personnel, three pirates escaped on a life raft and one was captured on board while several crew members were rescued, leaving several pirates holding the remaining crew hostage. After negotiations with the remaining pirates failed, the Coast Guard members broke into the vessel and freed the remaining crew. Four weapons were recovered. The vessel was secured and brought to the port of Monrovia on July 26.
OYA1
On Aug 21, six crew members have been released by pirates following their kidnapping from the 'Oya I' on June 30 at an anchorage off Doula. Two Cameroonian military vessels had responded to the incident, arriving at the scene within minutes. They left a little over an hour later. Three days before the kidnapping, shipowners were alerted to an increased threat of pirate attacks off West Africa. The ship was also targeted by pirates in August 2017 off Nigeria.