News / Car-carrier attack by rebels came after new hijack alert

Photo: VesselFinder

Shipping firms with vessels transiting the Suez Canal, and its Red Sea approaches, were warned about the heightened risk of hijacking shortly before Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured a car-carrier yesterday.

The 2002-built Galaxy Leader, enroute to India from Turkey, is operated by Japanese shipping line NYK and registered in the Bahamas. However, according to the vesselsvalue.com database, it is owned by Isle of Man-based Ray Car Carriers, which is 50% owned by Israeli businessman Abraham “Rami” Ungar.

The 4,500 ceu [car ...