'Unauthorised activation' of extinguisher caused sub mishap By Vinay Shukla

Moscow, Nov 10 (PTI) An "unauthorised activation" of the
fire extinguishing system led to the gas leakage on a Russian
nuclear-powered submarine that claimed 20 lives, officials
said Monday amid reports that the vessel which was to be
leased to India next year carried three times its normal crew
during the mishap.

A high-level probe panel appointed by President Dmitry
Medvedev and comprising Naval Chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky
and senior Defence Ministry officials, is expected to complete
investigation into the accident by weekend.

"The preliminary official conclusion is the unauthorised
activation of the fire extinguishing system," Ksenia
Gusentsova, spokesperson for the chief federal inspector for
the Maritime Territory in Russia's Far East was quoted as
saying by RIA Novosti.

The accident, Russia's worst since the sinking of the
Kursk nuclear submarine in 2000, took place on Saturday night
while the submarine was undergoing sea trials.

The Akula-class attack sub had 208 people on board --
nearly three times its normal crew size of 73 -- when the
the automatic extinguishing system spewed toxic Freon gas.
Russian media reports suggested that there may not have been
enough oxygen masks in the vessel.

Three sailors and 17 shipyard technicians died in the
mishap.

According to RBC TV channel, it was for the first time
this type of new generation automatic fire-extinguishing
system was installed on the Nerpa submarine built by the naval
shipyard in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

"The ship has the latest fire-extinguishing system, a
computer-activated alarm," Khabarovsk Region Governor Viktor
Ishayev said. "According to the investigation, there is no
evidence that a person was involved in the system's
operation."

However, the investigation did not rule out a "human
error".

Governor Ishayev said all those on board, who donned
their oxygen masks after the release of freon gas in locked
compartments have survived, while those who ignored
instructions died.

The incident is the worst for the Russian Navy since the
sinking of the Kursk submarine which killed 118 sailors died.

"You can't rule out that some of the civilians had not
been issued with portable breathing apparatus or didn't know
how to use them," a former naval submariner was quoted as
saying by RIA Novosti.

A high-ranking official at the Pacific Fleet's
headquarters also questioned why portable breathing apparatus
had not been used.

"Perhaps the people did not notice the gas being released
and when they realised it was already too late."

Tuesday has been declared a day of mourning in Maritime
Territory, where the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet is based.
PTI V.S.
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