Two Ships Divert Route From Red Sea After Houthis Hijacked India Bound Cargo Vessel (Image:Vesselfinder.com)
Two commercial vessels were reportedly diverted their course in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and are said connected to the same maritime group whose cargo ship was hijacked by the Yemen based Houthis on Sunday. Houthis seized the ship because of its Israel associations. The vessel, named Galaxy Leader, was on its way to India from Turkey and is owned partly by an Israeli firm.
The current diverted merchant fleets were also to the same group whose vessel was seized on Sunday, said the news agency Reuters analyzing the shipping data and British maritime security company Ambrey. Ambrey identified the diverted fleets as Glovis Star and Hermes Leader, and were listed as commercially managed by Ray Car Carriers. The fleets redirected their sailing routes on Sunday.
Israel on Sunday said that the Houthis, a rebel, Islamist, political and armed organization in Yemen, had seized a British-owned, Japanese-operated cargo ship in the Red Sea. They described the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with consequences for international maritime security.
The seizure gained a global attention since it was done in the Southern Red Sea, a crucial shipping route, and it’s said connection with Israel as Tel Aviv is moving to third month of its war against the Palestine. The incident heightened fears, across the world, as it symbolizes the cross bordering of a regional tension even affecting the maritime front. “All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets,” the Associated Press quoted the Houthis.
According to Al Jazeera, the ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel. At least 25 crew members were expected taken in hostage and the vessel was said operated by Japanese men.
The Reuters quoted Japan’s top government spokesperson on Monday who confirmed the Nippon Yusen-operated ship Galaxy Leader. The nation was appealing to the Houthis and sought the help of Saudi, Oman and Iran authorities to work towards the swift release of the vessel and its crew, Tokyo added.
According to the British maritime security company Ambrey, two more ships were also listed as commercially managed by Ray Car Carriers, Glovis Star and Hermes Leader, diverted their sailing routes on Sunday. The Hermes Leader had set a course to sail south of Nishtun in Yemen when it diverted its journey. The Glovis Star was said drifted for a number of hours in the Red Sea before continuing its journey, reported Reuters.
