Salvage of submarine Kursk (K-141)

An explosion in the bow section of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk on August 12, 2000, resulted in the loss of the vessel and all 118 crew. An international team led by Mammoet-SMIT recovered the wreck and delivered it to the Murmansk drydock in October 2001


BARENTS SEA
SWEDEN 
FINLAND
Kursk sinks
Murmansk 
RUSSIA
Moscow
400km


Giant 4 salvage barge
Length: 140m 
Capable of carrying 24,000 tonnes. Accommodation for 50 crew

Section cut out to make room for Kursk’s conning tower

Strand jacks: Giant 4 is fitted with 26 strand jacks – each capable of lifting over 900 tonnes. Lifting is precisely controlled by computer system

Heave compensators: Reduce impact of sea swell. Force on each bundle of cables set individually to minimize tension on Kursk’s hull

Anchors

108 metres

Kursk (K-141 )
Length: 155m 
Weight: 18,000 tonnes

Outer hull 
Beams 
Inner hull

Divers: Attach all 26 lifting cables and unfold arms under beams and inner hull to provide firm anchorage

Bow section: Salvage workers cut away submarine’s mangled first compartment because of
the risk of unexploded torpedoes. It is left on sea bed and raised later

Outer hull
Inner hull
Beams

Holes: Cut in hulls by divers using high- pressure water jets which blast abrasives

Cable plug: Specially designed by Mammoet

Lifting cables: Lowered from pontoon. Each “bundle” is made up of 54 steel cables or strands


Saddles: Four specially-designed saddles – mounted below pontoon – are bolted to hull of submarine

Weapons: Type 65-76A torpedoes, SS-N-19 Granit cruise missiles

Saddles absorb forces generated by wave motion 

Submarine towed at about three knots


Sources: Mammoet, Smit International, Jane’s Fighting Ships, Bellona Foundation
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