Raising the Kursk

A SOMPTING company is playing a vital role in the international efforts to raise the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk from its watery grave.

Southern Scientific Ltd, of Rectory Farm Road, has a team of inspectors monitoring the radiation levels around the submarine, which is lying on the bed of Barents Sea off the Russian coast, writes Jamie Hailstone.

The company s sales director John Adam said: We ve provided equipment to Russian places like this in the past, but we ve never actually been involved in doing the work.

The inspectors are stationed in a boat on the surface while divers work on the submarine below.

The team from Southern Scientific used to work for the Royal Navy in Rosyth, Scotland, and are fully trained in this field.

They are closely monitoring all shipboard staff and the divers to ensure that they are not placed at any risk during the operation.

Mr Adam said the divers were currently working to remove the front section of the submarine, which contains several nuclear torpedoes.

If that is successful, the divers will then work to open up the back of the submarine which holds two nuclear reactors and most of the crew, all of whom died when the Kursk sank last year. The plan is then to lift the submarine to the surface and a lifting barge is scheduled to join the operation later.

For the full story, see the Lancing Herald, August 30.