Sri Lanka Takes Charge of Iranian Naval Auxiliary Ship IRINS Bushehr

Sri Lanka’s President announced on March 5 that the island nation will take charge of Iran auxiliary ship IRINS Bushehr (A 422) and its crew.

At a media briefing, information on the situation was provided by the President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He stated that Sri Lanka intends to safeguard its neutrality while demonstrating humanitarian values.

On February 26 the replenishment vessel IRINS Bushehr, along with the frigate IRIS Dena and another Iranian vessel, had requested permission to enter port from March 9 to 13. Dena was sunk off the coast of Galle, by a U.S. Navy SSN using a Mark 48 torpedo, in the early hours of March 4. Bushehr then requested permission on March 4 to enter the port of Colombo on March 4 and 5, following which the Sri Lankan foreign ministry negotiated with its Iranian counterpart. One of Bushehr’s engines was reported to be damaged. After further negotiations with Iran it was decided to relocate the vessel.

Sri Lanka did not want the Iranian vessel near the busy port of its capital city Colombo. The vessel will thus be taken to the northeast port of Trincomalee. One Sri Lanka Navy vessel commenced the rescue operation with 208 of the crew to be taken to Colombo. This crew consists of 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors and 23 sailors. The 107 m long vessel typically has a crew of around 270. The vessel will be moved to Trincomalee with the help of Sri Lankan personnel only after the 208 of the crew is transferred.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy released a statement on the IRIS Dena incident, revealing that P-8I aircraft were deployed along with naval vessels:

A distress call from IRIS Dena was received at the MRCC Colombo in the early hours of 4 March 26 as reported by the Sri Lankan Navy. The ship was operating 20 NM West of Galle in the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility. On receipt of the information, the Indian Navy promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 1000 hr on 04 March 26 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka. Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini which was operating in vicinity was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 1600 hr on 04 March 26. By this time SAR had been undertaken by Sri Lankan Navy and other agencies. INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment the search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure for ship wrecked personnel. Coordination with the Sri Lankan side on Search and Rescue efforts is ongoing.

An oil spill was later spotted in satellite imagery near the suspected location of the sinking. IRIS Dena was returning from an international fleet review and Exercise MILAN hosted by the Indian Navy. The identity of the third Iranian naval vessel could not be confirmed. The vessels are expected to try avoid the fate of Dena amidst the U.S. Operation Epic Fury.