What was the imposing Iranian military ship that mysteriously sunk like

The boat Kharg, the largest of the Iranian navy, sank this Wednesday as confirmed by the navy of this country. The ship was more than 200 meters and it had been built in the late 1970s.

In circumstances which are not entirely clear, the vessel began to catch fire in the Gulf of Oman and, after 20 hours trying to contain the fire, the operation failed and the ship sank.

Fortunately, the crew could be evacuated in time before the ship sinks off the port of Jask, southeast of Tehran, near the Strait of Hormuz, which gives access to the Persian Gulf.

the Kharg, which the Iranian press qualifies as a “cruise ship” or “jet cruiser”, is indeed a “Support school boat”, which has been in service for over four decades.

As detailed on the military site, Global Security, the ship is a tanker tanker which serves as supply and replenishment. In turn, the ship has a helicopter carrier.

The ship was built in Britain between 1976 and 1978. It has a type design Olwen, but modified. In this sense, it measures 207 meters long. At 1984 the ship was delivered to Iran and in 1993 it was reconditioned.

According to the portal, in recent years, the Iranian Navy has increased its presence in international waters with the aim of protecting naval routes and ensuring the safety of merchant ships and tankers. Likewise, with the aim of combating piracy, since November 2008, patrols in the Gulf of Aden to protect commercial vessels, especially those owned or leased by Iran.

According to the official incident report, the ship had made these days “A training mission” in international waters.

With information from AFP and AP agencies

THE NATION