MOSCOW, January 10 (Itar-Tass) — The Yekaterinburg submarine fire destroyed the sub’s hydro-acoustic system; the damage topped one billion rubles, a source in the Russian defense sector told Itar-Tass on Tuesday in comment on the work of an interdepartmental investigative commission.
The fire also seriously damaged the rubber coating of the submarine’s casing. Several months of complex works are necessary to repair the damage. The works will be done at Sevmash, the source said.
In his words, the Yekaterinburg accident resulted from flagrant violations of fire safety rules. “A fire started between the casing and the inner hull, in the location of a hydro-acoustic antenna,” the source said.
The submarine is staying at a base near Severomorsk and may reach Sevmash in Severodvsinsk for reconstruction only in late May or early June when ice melts in the White Sea, the source said.
The fire in the dry dock of the 82nd ship-repairing plant in Roslyakovo, Murmansk region, broke out on December 29, 2011. Wooden scaffolds placed around the submarine caught fire, which later spread onto the submarine casing. The submarine had to be descended into water for putting out the blaze. Nine people were hurt. The Russian Investigation Committee opened a criminal case of the destruction or damage of military property by negligence (article 347 of the Russian Criminal Code).
The Sevmash shipyard is a component of the United Shipbuilding Corporation. It is the largest shipbuilding enterprise in Russia and the only shipyard of the country, the main task of which is atomic submarines building for Navy. The enterprise, occupying the area of more than 300 hectares, includes in its structure more than 100 subdivisions.
More than 25,000 people work on the basic enterprise of Severodvinsk.
From 45 surface ships, 163 submarines (among them 128 have nuclear power units), have been built on Sevmash since 1939.
Civil production manufacturing is focused on the oil and gas projects on the Arctic offshore zone. Sevmash specialists also take part in construction of surface fields of Russian North - manufacturing of industrial and accommodation modules, equipment for oil production, oil and gas pipeline and other objects inspection.
More than 100 civil vessels of different classes and purposes have been built since 1990 (tugs, mini-bulk carriers, pontoons, barges, fish farms) for foreign customers.