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Iranian warship suffers engine trouble, anchored off Colombo port
View(s):The Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr—now in the custody of the Sri Lankan government—remained yesterday at the outer anchorage of the Colombo port, with unresolved engine trouble reportedly preventing it from sailing to the Trincomalee harbour.
On Thursday, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the government has formally taken charge of IRIS Bushehr and its crew after discussions with relevant authorities, diplomatic missions, and the ship’s captain. On Wednesday, March 4, the vessel requested permission to enter a Sri Lankan port—either on March 4 or 5. It entered the outer anchorage of the Colombo port on March 5. The President said 208 personnel on board (53 officers, 84 cadets, 48 senior sailors and 21 sailors) were brought ashore. They are now accommodated at the Welisara Navy camp.
The ship was due to be transported to Trincomalee. However, it remained yesterday in the outer anchorage of the Colombo Port, as its crew members have said it cannot be moved without being towed. There are between 12 and 14 crew members on board, official sources said.
A vessel of this nature requires both Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry clearance to berth at the Colombo port. However, neither was issued to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) on the day the ship was coming in. This is because it was under the purview of the Navy from the outset, the sources said. The only involvement of the SLPA was that it provided two tugboats to evacuate those on board.
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