http://www.boston.com/dailynews/231/world/Storms_halt_divers_work_on_lif:.shtml

Storms halt divers' work on lifting Kursk nuclear submarine

By Associated Press, 8/19/2001 15:34

MOSCOW (AP) Storms on the Barents Sea have halted work by an international diving crew on preparing the sunken Kursk nuclear submarine to be raised to the surface next month, the Russian Navy said Sunday.

Waves reaching 13 feet high and 36 mph winds were reported in the area, the navy's press office said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency as saying.

Forecasts say the winds will stay strong until Tuesday or Wednesday, ITAR-Tass and Interfax reported. It was unclear how much that would disrupt plans to lift the massive submarine in mid-September. The harsh weather in the region north of the Russian port of Murmansk was one of many risks that critics cited in opposing the costly lifting operation.

The Kursk suffered explosions and sank during training exercises Aug. 12 last year, killing all 118 men aboard. Russian officials say they want to raise the submarine to help determine the cause of the disaster.

The divers are drilling holes in the Kursk's thick steel hull to attach steel cables that will be used to lift it. They are also slicing off the fore section of the ship, which will be left on the sea floor. The section was severely mangled in the disaster and officials say it may contain unexploded torpedoes, making lifting it too dangerous.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001