Iran's IRIS Bushehr supply ship requests emergency docking in Sri Lanka after the sinking of the Dena frigate, with 270 personnel onboard.
The Sri Lankan government announced that the IRIS Bushehr (422), a supply ship belonging to the Iranian Navy, has requested emergency assistance and permission to dock in Sri Lanka. The request came following the reported sinking of the Dena frigate, which was hit by a torpedo from the United States.
Sri Lankan government officials speaking in parliament on Thursday confirmed that the ship is located in international waters but within Sri Lanka's exclusive economic zone, and it has requested urgent assistance from the Colombo administration.
270 People Reported Onboard
The supply ship, which has a capacity of approximately 3,300 dwt and is 108 meters long, is believed to have been sent to the region to supply the Dena frigate, which was returning from a naval event in India.
It has been reported that approximately 270 sailors and military students are onboard the ship.
The Sri Lankan administration has not yet made a definitive decision regarding whether the ship will enter its territorial waters. According to media reports, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has held discussions with senior government officials regarding the matter.
While some sources indicate that the ship has not been allowed to enter Sri Lankan waters, other reports state that the ship was permitted to advance to within 10 nautical miles of Colombo approximately 11 hours later.
Options for Evacuation or Detention Being Discussed
The Sri Lankan administration is evaluating different options regarding whether to allow the ship to dock.
The options on the agenda include:
- Evacuating some personnel onboard
- Providing temporary shelter for the ship in a safe port
- Detaining the ship during the war
Dena Frigate Sunk
On Wednesday, the Sri Lankan and Indian navies launched a search and rescue operation in the region following a distress call from the Dena frigate, which belongs to the Iranian Navy and was hit by a torpedo.
The Sri Lankan Navy stated that the ship, located 20–50 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, had sunk by the time they reached the scene.
As a result of the rescue efforts:
- 32 Iranian sailors were rescued and transported to hospitals in Sri Lanka.
- The sailors were reported to have suffered burns, broken bones, and various injuries.
Sri Lankan authorities also announced that they have recovered the bodies of between 84 and 87 Iranian sailors. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to send the bodies back to Iran.
While Iran stated that there were 130 people onboard, Sri Lankan officials estimate that there could be approximately 180 people on the ship. It is estimated that around 60 people are missing in the search efforts.
Support from India
The Indian Navy announced that it has sent a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to support the search and rescue operations. Additionally, the INS Taranigni, which is operating in the region, has been dispatched to the scene, and the INS Ikshak is reported to have departed from Kochi.
The New Delhi administration stated in its announcement that it will not involve itself in the war, firmly rejecting claims that U.S. forces are using Indian ports.
Following the developments, the Sri Lankan government condemned the actions of the U.S. and Israel and emphasized that the crisis should be resolved through diplomatic means.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
