The owner and manager of the seized car carrier Galaxy Leader say all possible channels are being explored to bring the crew and vessel home.
In what is thought to be its first statement since the incident at the weekend, Isle of Man-registered Ray Car Carriers company Galaxy Maritime confirmed the vessel had been taken to the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah in Yemen.
Clarksons lists the technical manager as Stamco Ship Management of Greece.
The companies noted that video footage released by Houthi rebel forces showed that the crew members “appeared to be well and remain on board the vessel”.
The statement said the 5,100-ceu Galaxy Leader (built 2002) was illegally boarded and hijacked in international waters by armed military personnel on 19 November.
“Owners and managers state that the welfare and immediate release of the crew remains the priority,” it added.
The crew comprises 17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans and a Romanian.
“Families are being kept informed of the situation and every effort is being made through all possible channels to secure the immediate release of crew and vessel, including through the various embassies and authorities involved of those being held,” the companies said.
They added that no further comment will be made on operational matters “at this time”.
The car carrier was seized as a bargaining chip as the Houthis sought to exert pressure on Israel to stop its war in Gaza.
Visit by naval chief
The Houthi leadership has said the release of the vessel and its crew will be discussed when “America and Israel stop killing Palestinians in Gaza and bring in water, medicine and food”.
A four-day ceasefire began in Gaza on Friday.
Ray Car Carriers is ultimately owned by Israeli businessman Rami Ungar.
The video footage referred to in the statement is from a visit this week to the ship by the commander of the Houthi-controlled Yemeni navy, Major General Muhammad Fadl Abdulnabi.
He was shown addressing the seafarers on the bridge. Their faces were blurred in the video.
“Welcome to Yemen. You are our guests here,” Abdulnabi said through an English translator.
“We consider all of the crew as Yemeni people. Anything you want, we will bring it. You can consider Yemen as your own country.”
