DATE=8/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIAN SUBMARINE (L)
NUMBER=2-265655
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: British and Norwegian teams have joined Russian
rescue operations around a damaged submarine.
Surveillance cameras were lowered to the wrecked
submarine first. Now one of the Norwegian deep sea
divers is descending to the sunken submarine on a
reconnaissance mission to check the condition of the
escape hatch of the Kursk. Correspondent Laurie
Kassman brings us up to date from Moscow.
TEXT: The Norwegian diver is checking on the condition
of the rear cargo hatch of the sunken Kursk submarine.
Then he will report back to those on the surface, who
will have to determine whether a British mini-
submarine, which arrived at the accident site on
Saturday, can actually dock with the Kursk and access
the damaged vessel.
The diver has to check the currents around the vessel
to determine if the mini-submarine can approach the
Kursk. He will also examine the condition of the rear
section of the submarine to determine if it is too
badly damaged for any submersible to dock with it to
gain access to the inside.
Armed with that information, rescue teams on the
surface will then decide how best to proceed.
Earlier in the week, the Russian rescue mission was
aimed at evacuating any survivors. But on Saturday
the chief of staff of Russia's northern fleet said it
was highly unlikely any of the 118 sailors on board
the Kursk are still alive.
He told a Russian T-V interviewer that most of the
crew probably died instantly when a massive explosion
ripped through the submarine last weekend.
The special committee investigating the accident said
on Saturday there was a massive explosion when the
vessel hit the bottom of the sea. Navy officials
still maintain a collision might have caused the
accident. The Northern Fleet's chief of staff has
called the accident the worst disaster in the history
of the elite nuclear fleet. (Signed)
NEB/LK/PLM
20-Aug-2000 03:43 AM EDT (20-Aug-2000 0743 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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