Iran is preparing for the launch of a boxship converted into a drone carrier named Shahid Bagheri. Due to this disturbing development, security concerns are heightened in the Arabian Sea.

The Shahid Bagheri drone carrier is a boxship formerly known as the “SARVIN.” It is a 3280 TEU ship that was delivered back in 2000. The vessel was converted to a drone carrier at the ISOICO shipyard near Bandar Abbas and is now controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is being hailed as a “mobile naval city,” ensuring the security of Iran’s trade lines and the rights of Iranian sailors and fishermen in the seas.

Among the modifications is an increased deck with a runway of around 170 meters. The ship can now accommodate the departure and landing of a large fleet of long-range fixed-wing drones. The vessel is expected to cause disruptions to vessels in the Arabian Sea.

Vice Admiral Brad Cooper of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet has confirmed that Iran has been involved in actively supporting the Houthis by providing resources, funding, and training. Iran has been assisting the Houthi Rebels in Yemen in targeting passing merchant ships for the past three months. Around 35 merchant vessels have been targeted by the Houthi drones and missiles so far. A car carrier named “Galaxy Leader” was hijacked and currently remains in Yemeni waters.

By Raghib Raza. Marcus Hand. In Ship Building and Technology. 25 January 2024