The Dutch‑flagged general cargo vessel Minervagracht is currently adrift and a blaze following an attack by an explosive device in the Gulf of Aden.
According to Reuters, the strike occurred approximately 128 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, while the ship was in international waters.
The vessel’s Amsterdam‑based operator, Spliethoff, confirmed the explosion caused significant structural damage and initiated a fire.
A total of 19 crew members—comprising Russian, Ukrainian, Filipino and Sri Lankan nationals—were evacuated via helicopter.
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Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, reported that the Minervagracht had also faced an unsuccessful attack just one week prior, highlighting a troubling escalation in persistence and intent from hostile actors in the region.
Two crew sustained injuries: one in stable condition and another in serious condition under transport to Djibouti.
The repeat targeting suggests the incident may not have been opportunistic but part of a broader, sustained threat profile affecting even less high-profile commercial vessels.
The EU maritime mission, Aspides, noted that the ship had not requested protection prior to the incident.
While the perpetrators remain unidentified, reports suggest the attack could mark the first Houthi-targeted strike on a commercial vessel since 1 September, amid ongoing Red Sea security tensions.
Recently, Gulftainer, a UAE-based operator of logistics and port services, expanded its role in Sharjah’s development as a regional multimodal logistics centre.
