Situation grim for Russian nuclear sub crew trapped on sea floor

The Kursk in May at its home base in Zapadnaya Litsa, Kola Peninsula, near Murmansk

In this story: Tight deadline Russia's nuclear accidents RELATED STORIES, SITES

MOSCOW (CNN) -- Hopes of rescuing the crew of a mammoth Russian nuclear submarine from the floor of the Barents Sea worsened on Monday after a top Navy admiral said the vessel had been in a "serious collision."

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense had said the crew of the Kursk was in no immediate danger. But Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov, the head of the Russian Navy, disclosed that the chances to rescue the crew -- from 107 to 130 people -- were "not very good."

CNN's Steve Harrigan said: "We are looking at a possible ... catastrophe with all the seamen on board facing death in the Arctic waters."

A task force of eight warships -- including five surface vessels and three submarines -- was sent to the area off Russia's northwest coast in the Arctic Ocean. A rescue ship lowered a "bell" onto the deck of the submarine and began supplying the vessel with oxygen, the Defense Ministry said.

VIDEO CNN's Steve Harrigan describes the accident and possible rescue scenarios Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO Paul Beaver of Jane's Defence Weekly gives assesses the situation 2.6MB/63 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     MESSAGE BOARD Submarine rescue     RESOURCES Details of the Kursk CNN Cold War Special : The frightening world of nuclear accidents     ALSO Limited options for rescuers Norway calls crisis talks on Russian submarine A history of accidents

The Kursk, which lies trapped 107 meters (350 feet) beneath the surface, is an Oscar II-class vessel, 154 meters (508 feet) long and nine meters (30 feet) wide.

Initial reports from the Defense Ministry said the submarine took on water on Sunday when the front torpedo tubes flooded after torpedoes were fired in a training exercise.

There are no nuclear weapons on the submarine, the ministry reported, and radiation levels from the submarine's nuclear reactor were said to be at normal levels.

The submarine was in radio contact with the surface vessels. The ministry had said the crew was in no immediate danger because the submarine can remain submerged for up to four months.

Standard rescue procedures call for the crew to be rescued using the "bell" or "capsule" which is lowered onto the hatch of the submarine. An alternative, considered extremely difficult, would be for the crewmembers to swim out of the torpedo tubes into the deep, Arctic waters.

Admiral Vyacheslav Popov, commander of the Northern Fleet, was directing the rescue operation, the Interfax news agency reported.

The submarine had been taking part in a major exercise.

The Defense Ministry of Norway, which also borders the Barents, said the submarine was in international waters northeast of Murmansk at a depth of around 500 feet.

The independent AVN military news agency, which has good sources in defense circles, said it was told by the Northern Fleet the submarine was listing some 60 degrees to the port side and was 85 miles from Severomorsk, the fleet's base.

Tight deadline

The ship can normally stay underwater for about 100 days but Paul Beaver, a spokesman for Jane's military information group, says rescuers may have a much tighter deadline to save the 107 crew on board.

Beaver said that with the torpedo compartments flooded, the crew will be unable to use them to evacuate the submarine.

CNN's Harrigan says there have been a number of recent accidents in the nuclear submarine fleet, which is among the most under-funded sectors in the Russian military.

The Kursk was built in 1994 and went into service in 1995, making it one of the newest vessels in the Russian navy. It is a nuclear powered submarine that can carry up to 24 missiles.

Russia's nuclear accidents

Russian nuclear submarines have been involved in a string of accidents in recent decades.

An Oscar-class Russian submarine

In the last major accident involving one of Moscow's nuclear submarines, the Komsomolets sank in April 1989 after catching fire 350 kilometers (210 miles) north of Norway. Forty-two of the 69 Soviet sailors aboard died in the accident.

The Izvestia newspaper reported recently that, according to the most conservative estimate, 507 submarine crew members have died during the 40-year history of Russian nuclear submarines.

CNN Moscow Correspondent Steve Harrigan, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Putin to shake-up Russian military
August 11, 2000
Scientists: Moscow financial crisis jars nuclear security
January 31, 1997
Major nuclear powers sign test ban treaty
September 24, 1996
Nuclear safety summit convenes in Moscow
April 20, 1996

Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle - DSRV
World Navies Today: Russian Submarines
Project 949 (Granit) - Oscar-I class
Project 949 A (Antey) - Oscar-II Class
Russian Government Internet Network
Russian Ministry of Defense (in Russian)
Submarine related links
Gray's military sea page
Submarine information

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.