The Iranian Navy replenishment ship IRIS Bushehr, which was anchored off the Sri Lankan west coast following the vessel’s crew being interned in Sri Lanka, has finally commenced its journey to Trincomalee under tow, The Sunday Morning reliably learns.

Highly-placed Government sources close to the matter told The Sunday Morning on terms of anonymity that the Bushehr had commenced its journey to the Trincomalee Bay under tow of a private salvage tug which had been contracted for the task. 

“The vessel towing started on Friday (10) and is slowly progressing. There were some technical difficulties and procedural issues which needed to be ironed out before the task was commenced and that’s why it took so long to begin. However, things are now underway,” a senior official close to the matter said.

The Bushehr, a 3,300-tonne, 108-metre-long West German-built replenishment vessel sought urgent refuge at the Port of Colombo on the night of 4 March, following the sinking of the light frigate IRIS Dena by a United States Navy submarine off the territorial waters south of Sri Lanka.

Over 200 Iranian crew members and naval cadets who were aboard the vessel were brought ashore and interned in Sri Lankan military installations in March. Sri Lanka cited principles of neutrality, international law, and the desire to save lives at sea when it took in the Iranian crew.