GALAXY LEADER

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Nominations for bravery award

The captain and crew of the 'Galaxy Leader', who were held for more than a year by Houthi terrorists, have been nominated for shipping’s top bravery award. The nomination of Lyubomir Chanev and his crew for the IMO’s Exceptional Bravery at Sea award is part of a list notable for acts of seafarer courage during the Red Sea crisis in 2024. The men from Bulgaria, the Philippines, Ukraine, Mexico and Romania were released in Jan 2025, after the start of a Gaza peace deal briefly reduced tensions in the region and led to a halt in the Houthi campaign. Other nominations on the 60-strong list include the Greece-nominated Captain Dimitrios Flouris and his crew from the tug 'Aigaion Pelagos', who played a key role in the operation to remove crude from the burning suezmax tanker 'Sounion', which was carrying a cargo of Iraqi oil from Basrah when it was attacked on Aug 21, 2024, off the port of Hodeidah. After the crew abandoned the ship, Houthi operatives detonated explosives on the deck of the ship, sparking fears of an environmental catastrophe. The cargo was not removed for another three months. Also nominated was Captain Sharad Sinsunwal and the crew of the Indian warship INS 'Kolkata'. The vessel was involved in the rescue of the surviving crew from the Houthi missile strike against the 'True Confidence', who were plucked from the sea and given medical treatment on the warship. The vessel was also involved in the rescue of 17 crew members who had been held hostage for four months fromthe 'Ruen', which had been hijacked by Somali pirates. The 'Kolkata' cornered theship in a 40-hour operation and coerced all 35 pirates into surrendering in March 2024. The nominations will now be scrutinised by an assessment panel chaired by IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez before being submitted to a panel of judges. The winners will be announced later this year.

Houthis claimed that US targeted command post of hijacked ship with airstrikes

US aircraft targeted with two airstrikes the command post of the 'Galaxy Leader', the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television channel reported on March 16. The Houthis provided no further details on the attack, and there has been no official statement from the US or Israel regarding the incident. The 25 crew members were held hostage for over a year before being released this January with mediation from Oman. The Houthis warned Israel on March 7 to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip within four days or face renewed maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels, when Israel blocked all aid into Gaza on March 2.

Statement from the Mission to Seafarers on the release of the Galaxy Leader hostages

Statement from the Mission to Seafarers on the release of the Galaxy Leader hostages By : The Ven. Dr Peter Rouch, Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers “The release of the crew of the Galayy Leader is a moment of profound relief. Not only for the hostages and their families, but for everyone who has supported them throughout this ordeal, whether through prayers, advocacy, or other efforts to secure their freedom. At The Mission to Seafarers, we have been honoured to stand alongside the families of the crew who have also been severely impacted by this plight during these 430 days of unimaginable fear and uncertainty. In collaboration with industry partners, our dedicated teams in Jordan and Cyprus have provided a range of support services to these families. We have journeyed with the Galaxy Leader families, facilitating the engagement of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with them as one of the foundations of the IMO’s work to secure the crew’s release. We will also remain available to assist as the crew transition home to be reunited with their families. This incident is a stark reminder of the threats faced by seafarers, which are often outside of their control. Seafarers must never be used as geopolitical pawns. Their rights to perform their lawful duties must be upheld without compromise. Today, as we express our deepest gratitude for those whose efforts made the release possible, we also celebrate the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by the crew and their families. Their courage in the face of such trauma serves as an inspiration to us all.”