The crew of the merchant ship Galaxy Leader, seized last month by the Iran-backed Houthi group, have been allowed “modest contact” with their families as various countries demand their release, the ship’s owner said, Reuters reported.

The Bahamian-flagged car carrier was brought into the port of Hodeidah in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen after it was approached at sea by the group’s fighters on November 19.

The crew of the captured ship also includes a Romanian. The other sailors are citizens of Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, Galaxy Maritime reported.

The vessel is chartered by the Japanese company Nippon Yusen.

“The safety and welfare of crew members remains a priority for both owners and managers and the modest contact allowed with crew members and their families shows that seafarers are being treated as well as could be expected in the circumstances,” said he. This was announced by the owner of the company Galaxy Maritime Ltd, registered in the Isle of Man, on Monday.

“The detained 25 crew members have nothing to do with the current situation in the region. Further, it will not work to detain them,” added the owner.

The United States has blamed the Houthis for a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since the October 7 war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Three ships were attacked in the Red Sea area on Sunday.

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