THE crew of Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader (IMO: 9237307) could be released soon, after comments from a Houthi spokesperson on Japanese television sparked hope the 25 seafarers may finally be set free.

The Ray Car Carriers-owned and NYK-operated car carrier was hijacked on November 19, 2023 by Iran-backed Houthi rebel group.

Since that date the vessel and crew have been held in Yemen, but their captivity may be about to end.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Japanese broadcaster All Nippon News the vessel and its crew would be released soon, through Palestinian negotiators.

A statement from the owners and managers of Galaxy Leader said the “horror story” was hopefully coming to an end.

It said the 25-strong crew of Filipinos, Mexicans, Romanians, Bulgarians and Ukrainians were “desperate to leave Yemen, as they have been moved around like pawns from ship to land at the whim of their persecutors”.

“Some have been hospitalised with malaria and one can only guess at their mental state.”

The owners called for humanity to prevail to “send these bystanders home in support of the peace process”.

“They were never involved, nor were their countries, yet for more than a year they have had their freedom curtailed. Time to move on”.

Following the agreement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis announced (through the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center) on Sunday January 19 that they would cease attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea, unless they are “wholly owned by Israeli individuals” or sailing under the Israeli flag.

The group said the “sanctions” would be resumed in the event of any aggression against the Republic of Yemen by the US, UK or Israel.

Since Galaxy Leader was hijacked in November 2023, security company Ambrey has counted more than 300 attacks against shipping in the Red Sea.

The now 14-month long campaign has completely rewritten the shipping industry, rerouting thousands of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope and adding thousands of tonne miles on to voyages.

More importantly, Houthi attacks have claimed the lives of four seafarers on board bulk carriers Tutor (IMO: 9942627) and True Confidence (IMO: 9460784).

A major ecological disaster was narrowly avoided in August 2024, when crude oil tanker Sounion (IMO: 9312145) was first attacked and then set on fire by Houthi militants and left burning in the Red Sea for several weeks, before it could eventually be towed to safety and its potentially hazardous cargo removed.

The Houthis have not landed a successful hit on a merchant vessel since November 2024.

Despite words of caution from Maersk and the EU Naval Force’s Operation Aspides, which operates in the region, shipping is looking at the “light at the end of the tunnel”, as put by Vespucci Maritime chief executive Lars Jensen.

Most importantly of all, the 25 innocent seafarers taken hostage in a conflict not of their making could too be looking at some light at the end of a very dark, very long tunnel.