Where and When the Israeli-Linked Ship Galaxy Leader Was Seized?
Images and video footage published by the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group provide an answer to the questions of when and where the Israeli-linked ship "Galaxy Leader" was seized in the Red Sea.
Sheba Intelligence analyzes the data it has obtained to answer these questions.
The tracking taken by Marine Traffic shows that the ship "Galaxy Leader" was sailing between Saudi Arabia and Sudan on Saturday, November 18, at 10:08 UTC. It appears that the ship turned off its location determination system after that.
However, the European Sentinel-2 satellite captured an image indicating, with optical and manufacturing characteristics, that it was the ship "Galaxy Leader" on Sunday morning, November 19, and it had traveled approximately 600 km south. Its last known location was at 7:55 p.m. UTC Universal Time, as shown in the previous image.
The photo was taken at coordinates (14.84966/41.90033) as it crossed the Zubair Group island off Al-Hudaydah, Yemen.
On Monday, November 20, the Houthis shared dramatic video footage showing how they seized the ship after the fighters dropped from a helicopter onto the roof of the Galaxy Leader. The video footage comes from cameras installed on the heads of the fighters, who are estimated to be more than ten. They opened the cockpit and ordered the staff on the ship to surrender.
A navigation computer screen on the bridge indicates that the ship had traveled approximately three-quarters of the distance down the Yemeni coast, which is under the control of the Houthis. The time also indicates (13:00) local time (10:00 UTC), that is, Sunday afternoon, which is confirmed by the statement of (NYK), the Japanese company that operates the ship. The shadows of Houthi fighters on board the ship also confirm the timing of the ship's seizure.
It appears that the Houthis carried out the operation in international waters, 50 miles west of the city of Al-Hudaydah, at coordinates (145000/415500) according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) statement.
Information indicates that the ship is currently in the port of Al-Hudaydah, under the guard and supervision of the Houthis, while its 25 members, who are of Ukrainian, Filipino, and Mexican nationalities, are being investigated.
There was no cargo on board the ship - according to the NYK statement, and this was shown in the video. One of the Houthis appeared chanting the Houthi motto from inside the ship, and its stores seemed empty.
The Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader on Sunday while it was sailing to India from Turkey. They said the ship was linked to Israel. But Israel says the seized ship is British-owned and Japanese-operated.
Galaxy Maritime Ltd, registered in the Isle of Man, said in a statement: "All communications with the ship have been lost," adding: "As a commercial shipping company, we will not comment further on the political or geopolitical situation." Rami Unger, an Israeli businessman, owns this company.
