 RUSSIA IN FACTS |
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11 September 2003 08:26
K-159 submarine crew could have been saved, says Russian navy chief
Moscow, 11 September: The commander-in-chief of Russia's navy, Vladimir Kuroyedov, has said that the sinking of
the K-159 nuclear-powered submarine in the Barents Sea on 30 August could have been avoided.
"The tragedy could have been avoided if everybody at their post, from the commander of the towing to the
commander of the fleet, had fulfilled requirements and instructions," Kuroyedov told reporters in Moscow today.
According to Kuroyedov, "the leadership of the fleet had not checked the preparedness of the submarine for
towing". "The organization of the towing was also unsatisfactory and resulted in tragedy," Kuroyedov
said. "The cause was quite simply nonfulfilment of those requirements that are laid down in the normative and
technical requirements for towing," Kuroyedov said.
"The Northern Fleet has again tripped up in the same way as in 2000 (the sinking of the Kursk in the Barents Sea
- Interfax), Kuroyedov said.
He added that 12 hours before the tragedy the leadership of the fleet had received information about a deterioration
in weather conditions. "The normative documents say that towing is allowed if the sea swell is up to three points
on the scale. Nobody responded to the forecast. The technical documents say that towing may be carried out at a speed of
up to three knots. The speed was 4.5 knots," Kuroyedov said.
He added that at 0120 Moscow time information was received at the fleet's command post that the stern pontoons
had come away from the submarine during the towing. "The commander of the fleet arrived at the command point at
0140 Moscow time. The sea swell was 4-5 points and during the course of an hour the fleet took no measures to save the
crew. People could have been saved. But a decision was needed The submarine was lost at 0300 Moscow time on 30
August," Kuroyedov noted.
[Interfax news agency] | | |
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