Seafarer dies after Houthi attack on Dutch cargoship

ONE of the two crew members hospitalised after last week’s Houthi attack on the general cargoship Minervagracht (IMO: 9571521) has died from his injuries.

The vessel’s owner Spliethoff Group confirmed the news in a statement on Monday.

“Our colleague passed away in hospital from the critical injuries sustained during the attack on our vessel in the Gulf of Aden on September 29,” the statement read.

“The events of last week have left a profound impact on everyone at Spliethoff. Today’s news has deeply saddened everyone at the company, as we mourn the loss of a respected and valued seafarer,” the statement continued.

Spliethoff added that all other crew members have been repatriated to their home countries, while one crew member remains stable in a Djiboutian hospital. They expect him to return to his home country later this week.

Netherlands-flagged general cargoship Minervagracht was sailing 128 nautical miles off the coast of Aden, Yemen, when attacked in the early hours of September 29.

The vessel was left ablaze and adrift, leaving two crew members “seriously wounded”, the company said at the time.

Spliethoff told Lloyd’s List in a statement following the attack that the vessel was in international waters when an “unidentified explosive device” inflicted “substantial damage to the ship”.

Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack late last week, accusing Spliethoff of violating “the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.”

The Iranian-backed group said it would intensify and enhance their area of attacks after Israel escalated its offensive in Gaza City, targeting ships linked to Israel or those affiliated to companies calling in the country.