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| Image credit: Armée française - Opérations militaires |
A crew member of the Dutch-flagged general cargo vessel Minervagracht has died from injuries sustained in a missile attack on the ship in the Gulf of Aden, shipowner Spliethoff confirmed on October 6.
The Amsterdam-based company said in a statement:
“Earlier today, our colleague passed away in the hospital from the critical injuries sustained during the attack on our vessel in the Gulf of Aden on 29 September. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. The events of last week have left a profound impact on everyone at Spliethoff.”
Spliethoff reported that most of the 19 crew members have been safely repatriated to their home countries. One crew member remains under medical treatment in Djibouti, but is in a stable condition and expected to return home later this week.
The Minervagracht was reportedly struck by a cruise missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi forces, who claimed responsibility for the attack. The group stated the vessel was targeted for allegedly “violating the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.” The missile hit approximately 128 nautical miles southeast of Aden, setting the vessel ablaze and leaving it adrift.
The EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Aspides, which patrols the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters, coordinated the emergency evacuation and rescue of the crew following the strike.
This incident underscores escalating security risks for commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where missile and drone attacks on merchant vessels have intensified in recent months amid regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict in Yemen.