IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has expressed sadness over the passing of a seafarer following an attack on the MV Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden, calling for an end to assaults on international shipping and urging dialogue to resolve tensions.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a crew member of the MV Minervagracht, as a result of injuries sustained during an attack on the vessel in the Gulf of Aden on 29 September 2025”, Dominguez said.
“My thoughts, along with those of the Secretariat and of the entire membership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), are with the family of the crew member.
“I strongly condemn any type of attack against international shipping, regardless of its motivation or cause.
“These deplorable attacks in the Red Sea violate international law and freedom of navigation. Innocent seafarers and local populations are horrified by the main victims of these attacks and the pollution they cause.
Constructive dialogue is the solution to resolving ongoing geopolitical crises affecting seafarers and international shipping.”
“The Netherlands-flagged general cargo vessel came under attack approximately 128 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s port city of Aden on September 29. Following the attack, the vessel was on fire and left adrift, creating a navigational hazard in the area.”
The attack marked the second time the MV Minervagracht had been targeted within a week, following a previous incident on September 23 while en route to Djibouti. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that on that date, a vessel reported “a splash and the sound of an explosion in its vicinity 120 nautical miles east of Aden.”
Yemen’s Houthis have since claimed responsibility for the attack.
