A Dutch cargo ship was hit by a projectile off Yemen on Monday, injuring two people and sparking a fire, its owner said.

The MV Minervagracht was in the Gulf of Aden when it came "under attack of an unidentified explosive device inflicting substantial damage", the company Spliethoff said.

As a result, the ship had caught fire, it added, while two crew members were injured.

"Currently the crew of 19 are being evacuated to nearby vessels by helicopter. The two injured seafarers are receiving first medical aid on board of these ships. The extent of their injuries is yet unknown."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Yemen's Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted vessels in the busy shipping lanes of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Iran-backed group, which holds swathes of territory in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, has said the attacks on commercial shipping are in support of Palestinians during Israel's war on Gaza.

The incident was earlier reported by the British Royal Navy-run United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

The UKMTO said the attack had occurred 128 nautical miles southwest of Aden.

British maritime security company Ambrey said the ship had previously been targeted on 23 September "while en route to Djibouti."

Two days later, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said the group had targeted a ship that had "violated" its ban on visiting Israeli ports.

The Houthis have also launched frequent missile and drone attacks on Israel, which has retaliated with strikes in Yemen.