Various shipping industry groups are calling for the release of of Galaxy Leader and its 25 seafarers still held captive by Houtis as the incident in the Red Sea marked its third month.

The vessel, a roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier, was seized on 19 November.

The maritime industry joined together from around the world to express their concern for the seafarers who have been held hostage, and call on the Houthis to release the crew of the Galaxy Leader.

"The 25 seafarers who make up the crew of the Galaxy Leader are innocent victims of the ongoing aggression against world shipping, and their plight is a major concern as the merchant shipping community continues to come under attack," the joint statement said.

It noted that all efforts must be made by international organisations and States to secure the release of the seafarers.

"It is abhorrent that seafarers were seized by military forces and that they have been kept from their families and loved ones for too long. All 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader must be released now," it added.

The co-signatories of the statement are the Asian Shipowners Association (ASA), the Asociación de Navieros Españoles (ANAVE), the Bahamas Shipowners Association, BIMCO, Chamber of Marine Commerce, Chamber of Shipping of America, Confitarma, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Cyprus Shipping Chamber, the Danish Shipping, European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), the InterManager, the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH), the International Chamber of Shipping, the International Christian Maritime Association, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), the International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA), the Liberian Shipowners’ Council Ltd (LSC), Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA), the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR), the Swiss Shipowners Association (SSA), the The Seamen’s Church Institute, the UK Chamber of Shipping, and the World Shipping Council (WSC).