TEN of the 12 Filipino crewmembers of the Spliethoff MPP Minervagracht arrived safely in their home country last night [5 October] after rescue and repatriation from their damaged vessel.
The 9,524 GT, 2011-built Dutch-flagged vessel was struck on 29 September by multiple cruise missiles/drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. It was on a ballast voyage from Djibouti to Mumbai and in international waters in the Gulf of Aden at the time.
Minervagracht caught fire as a result of the attack and two seafarers were injured, but all 19 were evacuated by helicopter. Spliethoff thanked crew of nearby ships for assistance, including treatment of the injured sailors.
In its latest published update the company said Minervagracht suffered significant damage as a result of the attack and the company was engaging with international authorities and towage experts to safeguard and secure the vessel.
The assault has drawn worldwide concern, given it was a considerable distance from the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels usual Red Sea vessel target area. Houthis are reckoned to have hit at least 100 vessels in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Gaza way, with eight seafarers killed and four ships sunk.
The Netherlands’ Foreign Ministry has called for the Houthis to be added to the EU’s terrorist list and sanctioned imposed.
The Houthis did not initially claim responsibility for the Minervagracht hit but late issued a statement:
“In support of the oppressed Palestinian people and their dear Mujahideen, and in response to the crimes of genocide and starvation perpetrated by the Zionist enemy against our people in the Gaza Strip, and to affirm the continued ban on Israeli maritime traffic in the Red and Arabian Seas.
“The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting the ship Minervagracht, for the owning company violating the decision to ban entry to the ports of occupied Palestine.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that their military operations are ongoing and will not be ceased until the aggression is halted and the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces also affirm the continued imposition of a maritime ban on the Israeli enemy in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and reiterate their warning to all companies and vessels against violating the previously announced ban order.”