Russian Deep-Sea Vessel Stuck, Trapping 7
Friday, August 05, 2005
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia — The fate of seven Russian sailors trapped in a mini-submarine that's stuck on the Pacific floor may depend on a U.S. Navy unmanned, remote-controlled vehicle.
The Russian sub's propeller became entangled in a fishing net Thursday, and the craft is stuck 625 feet below the surface...
"There is air remaining on the underwater apparatus for a day — one day," he said at about 6 a.m. EDT..."
The accident occurred in Beryozovaya Bay, approximately 100 miles south of Kamchatka's capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky...
Russia appealed to the United States and Japan for assistance...
At least one robotic rescue vehicle from San Diego will be shipped on a plane Friday to Russia to help save the submarine. The unmanned vehicle, called a Super Scorpio, can reach depths of up to 5,000 feet and is equipped with high-powered lights, sonar and video cameras...
...the Navy is doing what sailors have done for centuries when other sailors are in trouble — race to help...
"The Super Scorpio is a remotely operated vehicle ... It's got two manipulators that are capable of lifting 250 pounds each so it has the ability to assist in this situation if it can get there in time"...
About 30 people will accompany the vehicle to Russia...
Russian Navy Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Alexander Kosolapov said contact had been made with the sailors, who were not hurt, and authorities were preparing to send down a similar vessel to assess the situation.
Dygalo also said Britain was providing "rescue means," but he did not specify what those were.
The mini-sub, called an AS-28, was too deep to allow the sailors to swim to the surface on their own or for divers to reach it, officials said.
The accident occurred early Thursday after the mini-submarine was launched from a rescue ship during a combat training exercise, Kosolapov said.
Two surface ships were sweeping the area with nets in the hope of wresting the trapped vessel from the sea floor, adding that the rescue effort would continue into the night, Dygalo said.
Brown said the Russian military has indicated that the submarine may have been fouled by fishing nets or steel cables. The vehicle does have an instrument that can cut steel cables, he said.
At Moscow's request, Japan dispatched a vessel carrying submarine rescue gear and three other ships to join salvage efforts, but they weren't expected to arrive at the scene until early next week...
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
