BBC Sunday, 15 July, 2001, 19:49 GMT 20:49 UK Salvage ship arrives to raise Kursk

A Norwegian diving support ship is poised to start the risky operation to raise the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank in the Barents Sea in August.

The ship, the Mayo, is carrying Norwegian, Russian and British divers, who will inspect the wreck before starting to clear away the silt from under the vessel.

The British divers are expected to begin work on Monday morning, on one of the most ambitious salvage missions ever attempted.

It will take about two months before the submarine is ready for lifting.

The submarine, which has nuclear reactors and unexploded torpedoes aboard, lies on the sea floor under 356 feet (100 metres) of water.

Mystery of sinking

Russian officials believe the disaster, in which 118 men died, was caused by a torpedo which exploded.

But they say they remain unsure whether it was caused by a malfunction - the theory favoured by most outside experts - or a collision.

President Vladimir Putin promised bereaved relatives that the Kursk would be raised this year.

Environmentalists have criticised the operation, because of what they say are possible dangers from the Kursk's two nuclear reactors.

Cutting front section

The actual lifting of the Kursk is scheduled for around 15 September.

The team will use robots to cut off the front section of the sub, where the accident happened, and leave it on the seabed.

The operation will proceed in several stages before culminating with the raising of the sub and its return to a specially prepared dock at the Northern Fleet's base in Murmansk on 20 September.

Russian divers have been practising for their part in the operation. Some of the men are already familiar with the Kursk, having taken part in the failed rescue mission last August.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001