Mystery Surface-Effect-Ship (SES) In Iran Identified

A surface-effect-ship (SES) seen in overhead imagery of Shahid Darvish yard near Bandar Abbas  has been provisionally identified. Its size, form, timing and location match a new minesweeper (or possibly a minehunter) project for the Iranian Navy. The Saba (صبا) was being built in May 2020 as reported in Iranian news article. The configuration bears a superficial resemblance to the Royal Norweigen Navy’s Oksøy-class (and related Alta-class) mine warfare vessels. Unlike the plastic-hulled Oksøy-class, Saba appears to be steel-hulled, which is less common in minesweepers. It is also much smaller, closer to 30 meters (100ft) long compared to 55.2 m (181…