SEVEROMORSK. May 20 (Interfax-AVN) - The departure the Russian Northern Fleet's salvage group to the nuclear submarine Kursk's accident site has been put off for the fifth day in a row.
Sources from the fleet headquarters told Interfax that a storm has not yet died down in the Barents Sea. Gushes of north and northeastern winds have reached 15-20 mps with sea roughness at 3-4 points.
The Mikhail Rudnitsky rescue vessel and the Altai tow ship, which will play the key role in lifting the submarine's remaining parts from the seabed, are still anchored in Severomorsk. The Kil- 164 auxiliary ship is in a safe haven near Tiriberka.
The vessels are expected to leave for the operation area when the sea swell calms down. The Kil-164 is to complete installation of fairway equipment including sea anchors or "barrels" that will be used for fixing the main vessels. According to the sources, the sea bottom in the operation area is muddy, and the barrels will provide an additional belay for the vessels' stability.
Group commander Colonel Igor Plishkin will stay on board the Mikhail Rudnitsky during the operation. Plishkin is the head of the Northern Fleet search and emergency rescue department.
Before the operation begins, the site will be re-examined by divers and a submersible apparatus from the rescue ship. The apparatus can be used only if sea roughness does not exceed 3 points.