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Russian Northern Fleet to practise nuclear-powered submarine rescue in Barents Sea

The rescue exercise will be crowned with the towing of the submarine to its home base

MURMANSK, September 2. /TASS/. A Russian Northern Fleet drill of rescuing a nuclear-powered submarine suffering a simulated failure of its main propulsion plant began in the Barents Sea on Wednesday, the fleet press office reported.

The Novomoskovsk nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, Yunga antisubmarine warfare (ASW) craft and SB-523 rescue tugboat crews and officers with the submarine command element, the search and rescue department and the medical service are taking part in the exercise, the press office added.

"In accordance with the scenario, the ballistic missile submarine suffered a malfunction resulting in a radical increase in the dose rate intensity, and further operation of the main propulsion plant puts the health and lives of the crew in jeopardy", the press office reported.

Then, the submarine will be lifted to the surface, and its crew will be awaiting the arrival of a rescue detachment carrying medical and radiation safety personnel. An ASW craft from the fleet alert force will head for the ‘disaster-stricken’ submarine to seal off the accident area and provide first aid to the crew.

The nuclear-powered submarine in simulated distress will be prepared for towing, while radiation safety personnel are checking it for radioactive contamination. The rescue exercise will be crowned with the towing of the submarine to its home base.