A Dutch cargo vessel was severely damaged after being struck by an explosive device in the Gulf of Aden, leaving two crew members injured while sailing in international waters.
The Houthi militant group has claimed responsibility for the missile attack on a Dutch cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden that injured two seafarers and left the vessel alight and adrift.
The Minervagracht, sailing under the Dutch flag, came under attack on Monday, according to its Amsterdam-based operator Spliethoff. The cause of the explosion has not been officially attributed, though suspicions fall on the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which has repeatedly targeted commercial vessels in the region since 2023.
Crew Injured and Evacuation Underway
Spliethoff confirmed that the Minervagracht sustained “significant damage” and caught fire following the strike. Two crew members were wounded, and all 19 crew were evacuated by helicopter to nearby ships. The severity of the injuries remains unknown.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was approximately 128 nautical miles off Aden when it was hit by an unidentified projectile. Maritime security company Ambrey also reported visible smoke rising from the vessel.
Series of Recent Attacks in the Region
If confirmed, this incident would mark the first Houthi-linked attack against a merchant ship since 1 September, when the Israeli tanker Scarlet Ray was targeted near Yanbu on the Saudi Red Sea coast. Earlier in July, Houthis sank the bulk carrier Magic Seas and the cargo ship Eternity C in the Red Sea.
Ambrey noted that the Minervagracht had already been targeted once before, on 23 September, while en route to Djibouti.
This latest attack underscores the continuing threat to shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Red Sea, where ongoing instability threatens one of the world’s most vital maritime trade corridors.
