October 4, 2001. Copyright, 2001, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Arctic storms lash Kursk salvage effort

LONDON, October 4, Graphic News: The lifting of the ill-fated nuclear submarine Kursk has again been hit by Arctic storms -- casting fresh doubt on whether the operation can be completed before winter sets in.

But Dutch salvage firm Mammoet says it remains optimistic, despite being forced to delay the attempt to raise the wreck.

ÒWe are very optimistic we can lift the Kursk at the beginning of next week and there are no discussions between us and our (Russian) partners about lifting it next year,Ó Mammoet president Frans van Seumeren told a news conference on Wednesday.

Divers from the salvage team are working around the clock to attach the 26 lifting cables needed to grasp the 18,000-tonne wreck and lift it to the surface.

More than twice the length of a jumbo jet, the 18,000-tonne (17,716-ton) submarine sank during wargames in the Barents Sea in August 2000, after a powerful explosion ripped open its nose. The cause of the tragedy, which killed all 118 crewmembers, is still not known. 

The Dutch salvage groups Mammoet and Smit International, which have established a joint venture (Mammoet-Smit) to salvage the Kursk, had planned to lift the Kursk by September 15, but had to postpone several times because of bad weather and technical glitches.

Mammoet spokesperson Larissa van Seumeren said that after 80 days of painstaking preparations -- during which a giant, hydraulically-operated cutting chain was used to slice off the KurskÕs mangled bow section -- there were no more obstacles. 

ÒWe donÕt expect any problems,Ó she said, adding that lifting the submarine would take 10 to 12 hours. The wreck will then be fixed to the bottom of its hoisting vehicle -- the ÒGiant 4Ó barge -- and towed to Roslyakovo, near the port of Murmansk. Four Russian-built pontoons will then lift the Giant 4-Kursk combination and sail it into a dry dock.

President Vladimir Putin has pledged to raise the Kursk to allow decent burials for the 118 crewmen who died on board and to try to find out the cause of the disaster which sank one of the RussiaÕs most advanced submarines.

The estimated US$70 million salvage operation will also recover the KurskÕs two nuclear reactors from the seabed and out of busy fishing lanes used by Russia and its Scandinavian neighbours.

At Roslyakovo the navy will remove the remains of the crew and 22 SS-N-19 ÒGranitÓ supersonic cruise missiles. It will later dismantle the submarine and its nuclear reactors.

But residents of Roslyakovo warn the salvage of the KurskÕs two nuclear reactors is environmentally risky.

ÒThere have been several emergency situations during ordinary repair work on ships and submarines in dock,Ó Russian naval officer Alexei Zaishely said. ÒBut to move a submarine with such damage to the dock safelyÉ well, I think it could be dangerous.Ó

Officials insist the project is safe and have erected an electronic sign in Roslyakovo to display radiation levels. In the meantime those who can afford it are packing their bags and leaving.
/ENDS
Associated Press, Reuters Mammoet, Smit International, Bellona Foundation