The German naval frigate Hessen has set sail on a planned EU military mission to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea against attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen. The warship, with a crew of about 240 sailors on board, left the German Navy’s largest base in Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea coast on Thursday morning. An EU decision and a mandate from German parliament to approve the mission remain pending, but are expected to be made sometime this month during the frigate’s trip to the region. The EU is expected to act by February 19, with Germany’s parliament to follow. The Hessen is expecte…