The Iranian Moudge-class destroyer Sahand capsized and sank in shallow water while undergoing dockside repairs in its home port of Bandar Abbas. The 1,300-tonne ship, commissioned in 2018, is one of the newest Iranian-built warships, fitted with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, as well as anti-aircraft batteries and sophisticated radar and radar-evading capabilities.

“As Sahand was being repaired at the wharf, it lost its balance due to water ingress. Fortunately… the vessel is being returned to balance quickly,” IRNA news service reported, citing a navy statement.

Maritime security analyst H.I. Sutton wrote on Sunday that the Sahand may have had a higher center of gravity due to recent upgrades, which could have affected its stability. The warship was fitted with a new radar, surface-to-air missiles, and more anti-ship missiles.

Poor maintenance or a docking accident were the most likely causes of the incident, Sutton said, although he could not rule out that the warship was sabotaged.

The Sahand is not the first Moudge-class destroyer to suffer a major casualty. Her sister ship Damavand capsized and sank after running aground on January 10, 2018. Another sister ship, Talayieh, rolled over in a dry dock in Bandar Abbas on December 6, 2021.

Thanks to Alaric Bond for contributing to this post.