According to Skytek, the recent hijacking of the reportedly Israeli-linked ship, Galaxy Leader, has “worldwide implications for Israeli shipowners and ultimately the marine war underwriters.”
Outlining the particulars of the event, Skytek said that Galaxy Leader passed near the Iranian flagship, Behshad, in the early morning of November 19th. A few hours later, the vessel was approached by an MI 17 helicopter deploying Yemen’s Houthis militia, which took over the vessel in the southern Red Sea. Skytek observed that the Houthi Militia launched the hijacking operation on the international flag vessel allegedly due to its group ownership being associated with an Israeli national, Abraham Rami Ungar.
However, it is worth noting that Israel’s military, writing on X, said that Galaxy Leader is “not an Israeli ship,” adding that it was “staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis.”
Skytek’s Head of Marine, Capt. Gabriel Zevri stated, “Underwriters can no longer differentiate the risk by adding a listed area under the Joint War Risk Listed Areas as this new vessel hijacking situation relates to the domicile of the ownership & management of the vessel.”
The firm said that a Saviz Iranian vessel was allegedly used as a reconnaissance base to alert of Galaxy Leader’s approach to Yemen. It is widely reported that the Houthi Militia are backed by Iran.
Skytek continued, “The threats that Houthi Militia are posing on the 20 km wide Bab-El-Mandeb strait are reportedly directed at ships linked to the Israel flag or ownership, but the non-state actor could potentially expand to ships calling to Israel ports, or random international flagships.
“Another point of concern is what will happen to the hijacked vessel and its 25 crewmembers, since the Houthi Militia did not claim anything, expect previously posting on social media that they would destroy the Israeli-linked ship.”
A spokesperson for the Houthi forces, Yahya Sare’e, in a statement on X, said the group would “continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against Gaza stops and the ugly crimes … against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza and the West Bank stop.”
The Galaxy Leader is a 5,110 CEU capacity Vehicle Carrier built in 2002 with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 17,127. It is registered under the Bahamas flag, classified by the Det Norske Veritas (DNV), and insured by the West of England P&I.
The vessel is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd Isle of Man, group owned by Ray Car Carriers Ltd, and operated by NYK Line.
