Dutch Cargo Ship Ablaze After Suspected Houthi Missile Strike
30.09.2025
A Dutch-flagged cargo vessel, Minervagrach, caught fire and was abandoned in the Gulf of Aden after a suspected missile attack — the first reported Houthi strike on a commercial ship in the area in nearly 14 months.
The 12,200 dwt ship, en route from Djibouti to Mumbai, was hit approximately 128 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen. Operator Spliethoff confirmed that all 19 crew members — from Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka — were evacuated by helicopter. Two sailors sustained serious injuries, according to the EU naval mission Aspides.
This incident marks the second time in a week that Minervagrach has come under suspected fire, after a near-miss was reported on September 23. The vessel is now drifting and considered a hazard to navigation.
While the ship reportedly has no ties to Israel, the Houthis have resumed attacks on merchant shipping since July, previously sinking two bulk carriers in the Red Sea. Naval forces warn of escalating risks for vessels transiting the region.