Brussels – Frigates of the European Mission Aspides have brought to safety the 19 crew of the Dutch freighter Minervagracht, which was hit by missiles from Houthi militiamen. Yemeni rebels fired the artillery shells, which came from Yemen, to hinder European trade, as a sign of support for the Hamas cause. The shells wounded two crew members, one of them seriously, and forced the crew to stop sailing in the Gulf of Aden, before entering the Red Sea.
The ship, as confirmed by the chairman of the EU Military Committee, Irish General Seán Clancy, is now “on fire and adrift off the south-east coast of Yemen.”
UKMTO reports two incidents (29 Sept):
Attack #28082034: vessel struck by unknown projectile, fire onboard.
Attack #33: splash/smoke sighted 128NM SE of Aden, Yemen.Unconfirmed: vessel may be the Dutch-flagged MINERVAGRACHT (IMO 9571521).#MaritimeSecurity #Yemen pic.twitter.com/rkjRYFFKbA
— NewsFromSea (@riskiomap) September 29, 2025
The rescue, known in maritime jargon as SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), involved two European boats (one Greek and the other French) and a French military helicopter. The operations were completed this morning, 30 September, bringing all the passengers to safety. Initial rumours revealed that the Minervagracht crew consisted of Filipino, Russian, Sri Lankan, and Ukrainian sailors. Those who were not injured were taken on board the EU frigates, while the French helicopter took the most seriously injured to hospital in Djibouti.
Despite the happy ending, one dark point remains about the affair: why the Minervagracht had not chosen to be escorted by European ships. In fact, according to the Associated Press (AP), the Dutch vessel had already been targeted by a failed attack by Houthi militiamen on 23 September. Without a prior escort, the European frigates were only able to start the rescue after the incident.
Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority reports that on Tuesday, September 30, we provided assistance to survivors from the attacked vessel M/V MINERVAGRACHT, sailing under the Dutch flag.
The vessel’s last port of call was Durban, before calling at the Doraleh Multipurpose Port… pic.twitter.com/yg1WwqZ5mN
— Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority (@dpfza) September 30, 2025
The incident once again highlights the critical issues associated with the route through the Suez Canal. The Aspides mission, which began in February 2024, has successfully accompanied numerous cargo ships northbound. In this context, Irish General Seán Clancy again emphasized the importance of the European commitment: “Aspides defends freedom of navigation and protects civilian seafarers, contributing directly to European and global security. Our message is clear: Europe must continue to invest in credible, ready, and responsive capabilities. Operations such as Aspides are not optional, but a strategic necessity to protect trade routes, support partners, and safeguard our common prosperity.”
Various forces have long contested the area. The African city-state of Djibouti, which overlooks the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb and thus Yemen, has over the years evolved into a significant military presence. France, Italy, the United States, Japan, and China have military and artillery bases in the city-state.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
