On Sunday, the Iranian Navy destroyer “Sahand” was involved in an accident during repairs at a port in Bandar Abbas.
Tasnim News, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the 96-meter (315-foot) vessel lost balance due to water infiltration in the ballast tanks while docked for repairs. The army’s information portal confirmed the incident.
The warship listed and became partially submerged. Several individuals reportedly sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital.
“While Sahand was under repair, it lost balance due to water ingress. Fortunately, the vessel quickly regained stability,” the official IRNA news agency quoted a navy statement.
Salman Zarbi, head of the Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex (ISOICO), mentioned in an interview with the Fars news agency that the ship could still be repaired and made operational.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) has experienced a series of serious incidents in recent years. Notably, the Sahand’s sister ship, the Damavand, capsized and sank on 10 January 2018. In addition, on 2 June 2021, the Kharg, Iran’s second largest warship, caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Oman. And on 6 December 2021, the Talayieh overturned in a dry dock in Bandar Abbas.
The Iranian navy frigate Sahand reportedly sank completely in shallow waters on Tuesday, July 9th, at the port of Bandar Abbas, according to Nournews agency. This followed its initial capsizing on Sunday and subsequent brief repositioning.
“Nournews, an agency affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, stated that the warship Sahand, which was painstakingly stabilized in the water on Monday, has now sunk following the rupture of the rope securing the vessel.”
