A 2011-built general cargo vessel has been set ablaze by a missile attack by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden.
The Minervagracht, owned by the Dutch-based firm Spliethoff, was hit around 1PM UTC. The French military’s Maritime Information, Cooperation and Awareness Centre (MICA Centre) said on X that the vessel was on fire and that a warship was heading to its position.
Preliminary information suggests a fire on board and dense smoke coming off the 12,200 dwt vessel, currently located 128 nautical miles off Aden. Authorities are investigating the attack.
Preliminary reports claimed that two crew members may also have been injured. However, more recent reports have reported no injuries or fatalities.
This is the second attack on the vessel within a week, as the Minervagracht was targeted by the Houthis on September 23. At the time of the attack, the vessel was not hit, and the projectile landed approximately two nautical miles from their position in the Gulf of Aden.
The MICA Centre also stated that the vessel had no links to Israel, which was confirmed by the US Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Centre. It is yet unknown why this particular vessel was targeted twice by the Houthis.
