Video: Crew Rescued as Dutch Cargo Ship Remains Adrift off Yemen

Minervagracht remains adrift in the Gulf of Aden (Armée Française - Opérations Militaires)

Published Sep 30, 2025 9:16 AM by The Maritime Executive

 

An international effort successfully evacuated the 19 crewmembers from the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht, which remains adrift in the Gulf of Aden. The most seriously wounded crewmember was airlifted directly to Djibouti, and a second crewmember was being treated while the 18 crewmembers were transferred to Djibouti.

The EU mission EUNAVFOR Aspides coordinated the rescue of the crew after the vessel was struck by a suspected missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen. It was sailing approximately 123 miles southeast of Aden at the time. 

Ten crewmembers were embarked aboard the Greek frigate HS Spetsai, while an additional eight were taken on board a French frigate. Aspides reports the crew is made up of individuals from Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka.

 

French and Greek warships evacuated the crew (Armée Française - Opérations Militaires)

 

 

The vessel’s owner, Spliethoff, reports Minervagracht has sustained “considerable damage” and is “experiencing a fire.” They said the vessel was sailing eastbound from Djibouti at the time of the incident and was not carrying cargo. 

The Houthis, so far, have not made any statements about the attack and why they repeatedly targeted this vessel. Yesterday, the Maritime Information, Cooperation and Awareness Center reported the same vessel was targeted on September 23 when it was 120 nautical miles east of Aden. The report said the vessel has no links with Israel. The Houthis, however, released a statement late on September 30 saying the ship was targeted because of the owner's sending ships to Israel in violation of the Houthis' ban.

Spliethoff reports it is engaging with international authorities and specialists to safeguard and secure the vessel. Aspides has warned that the ship remains a hazard to navigation.

The Houthis’ attacks have mostly been directed at Israel in recent weeks, although the group continues to assert that it is maintaining a blockade on all shipping associated with Israel. They had not claimed attacks on merchant ships since the beginning of September, and before that, in early July, when they sank two bulkers in the Red Sea.

Video: Cruise Ship Saves Castaways on Raft in the Caribbean

Cruise ship tender approaching the raft

Published Sep 29, 2025 5:23 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

In what appears to be a very lucky stroke of fate, a group of cataways was rescued by a large cruise ship early Sunday evening, September 28.  According to passengers posting on social media, ten individuals were rescued from their open raft somewhere west of Cuba and east of Mexico.

The 82,900 gross ton Enchantment of the Seas was cruising the Western Caribbean when, according to the reports, people from the raft used possibly flashlights to attract the attention of the bridge crew of the 990-foot (302-meter) cruise ship, which was sailing toward Costa Maya on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

 

 

It was around dusk, and the cruise ship stopped to investigate. One of the vessel’s tenders was lowered, and it approached the raft. The people were taken aboard and brought back to the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship. 

It was extra luck that the cruise ship was in the right place at the right moment. The Enchantment of the Seas, which accommodates more than 2,250 passengers, sails from the Port of Tampa and had been scheduled to proceed east to the Bahamas. However, with the mounting tropical storm, the cruise line rerouted the ship west to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

 

 

(Jeffrey Walker/Facebook)

 

In these situations, the cruise ship typically gives the people clean clothing, food, and water, and emergency medical treatment if required. The cruise ship notifies the local authorities. The people are often landed at the next port of call for repatriation.

Thanks to cruise passenger Jeffrey Walker, who was enjoying a trip with his family, for posting the pictures and videos online.