The managers of the Galaxy Leader cargo vessel renewed their calls on Tuesday for the Houthi militants in Yemen to release 25 members of the vehicle carrier crew who have been detained for seven months.

On November 19, militants attacked the Bahamas-flagged vessel using helicopters. STAMCO Ship Management Co Ltd stated that they captured the Bulgarian master and chief officers of the ship, as well as 17 Filipinos, and other sailors from Ukraine Mexico and Romania.

STAMCO said that the Houthis have nothing to gain by keeping the 25 crewmembers and requested their immediate release to their families.

Galaxy Maritime Limited, located on the Isle of Man, owns the Galaxy Leader.

Since November, the Houthis claim to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza War by using drones and missiles against ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well as the Gulf of Aden.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICCS), which represents shipowners, called the Houthi attack "unacceptable act of aggression that threatens the lives of innocent seamen and the safety of merchant ships".

The Houthis launched direct attacks on two ships last week - the Liberia flagged Tutor coal carrier, and the Palau flagged Verbena, loaded with wood building material.

These attacks prompted security analysts to notice a significant improvement in the effectiveness and efficiency of drones and missiles used by militants aligned with Iran.

Safety risks forced rescuers to evacuate crews from damaged ships. One Tutor sailor remains missing.

On Tuesday, UKMTO said that it believed the Tutor was sinking. The Verbena, which is currently drifting, could be attacked or sink further.

U.S.-led forces conducted airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah International Airport, as well as Kamaran Island off the coast of Salif. Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Los Angeles; writing by Lisa Baertlein; editing by Alison Williams, Josie Kao and Alison Williams.