ID :
32393
Wed, 11/26/2008 - 09:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/32393
The shortlink copeid
Russian N-submarine mishap: Navy sends fact-finding mission
Vinay Shukla
Moscow, Nov 25 (PTI) An Indian Navy delegation travelled here on a fact-finding mission following an accident onboard a Russian nuclear submarine that was to be leased to it, even as shipbuilders blamed the inherent flaws of central control panel of the vessel for the mishap.
They also said "serious work" was required to make its
fire-extinguishing system "foolproof".
"New modification of 'Molibden' central control panel is
under trial on board the Nerpa (submarine), for the Indian
variant. This is a 'raw' system, which even before had
malfunctioned," mechanical engineer of the Amur Shipyard
Sergei Stolnikov told popular youth daily 'Komsomolskaya
Pravda'.
A high-level delegation led by Vice Chief of Naval Staff,
Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, is here on a fact-finding
mission as the Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine was to
be leased to the Indian Navy sometime in next summer.
Stolnikov, who was member of the pre-delivery trial team
of the shipyard, 17 technical staff of which were among the
casualties caused by the release of fire suppressing toxic
Freon gas, believes that the control system was probably
"raw", because its developer had died this summer and for
three months the system was unattended.
"Just before the (sea going) trials it was believed to
have been put in order: I think, on November 8 the fire safety
system was triggered due to malfunctioning of 'Molibden'," he
added.
In an interview to 'Komsomolskaya Pravda', Gennady Bagin,
Director of 'Vostok' plant, a unit of Amur Shipyard, said
"Molibden-I" (Indian variant), which is a centralised control
system of the entire vessel, requires serious improvement,
specially its fire-control system and sensors need to be made
"foolproof".
A sailor of the crew has been charged with "tempering"
the temperature gauge of the fire-control system in the
sleeping compartment of the submarine, resulting in the deaths
of 20 people and injuries to 21 in the Russian Navy's worst
accident since August 2000, when 118 submariners on board the
Kursk had died.
"The sensor panels (of fire-safety system) are not even
covered with traditional protective glass, which has to be
broken before activating it. Besides this the Central Command
post can not see anyone manipulating the sensor panels in the
compartments. This is a designer's flaw and needs to be
rectified," the shipyard official said. PTI VS
SAK
Moscow, Nov 25 (PTI) An Indian Navy delegation travelled here on a fact-finding mission following an accident onboard a Russian nuclear submarine that was to be leased to it, even as shipbuilders blamed the inherent flaws of central control panel of the vessel for the mishap.
They also said "serious work" was required to make its
fire-extinguishing system "foolproof".
"New modification of 'Molibden' central control panel is
under trial on board the Nerpa (submarine), for the Indian
variant. This is a 'raw' system, which even before had
malfunctioned," mechanical engineer of the Amur Shipyard
Sergei Stolnikov told popular youth daily 'Komsomolskaya
Pravda'.
A high-level delegation led by Vice Chief of Naval Staff,
Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, is here on a fact-finding
mission as the Akula-II class nuclear attack submarine was to
be leased to the Indian Navy sometime in next summer.
Stolnikov, who was member of the pre-delivery trial team
of the shipyard, 17 technical staff of which were among the
casualties caused by the release of fire suppressing toxic
Freon gas, believes that the control system was probably
"raw", because its developer had died this summer and for
three months the system was unattended.
"Just before the (sea going) trials it was believed to
have been put in order: I think, on November 8 the fire safety
system was triggered due to malfunctioning of 'Molibden'," he
added.
In an interview to 'Komsomolskaya Pravda', Gennady Bagin,
Director of 'Vostok' plant, a unit of Amur Shipyard, said
"Molibden-I" (Indian variant), which is a centralised control
system of the entire vessel, requires serious improvement,
specially its fire-control system and sensors need to be made
"foolproof".
A sailor of the crew has been charged with "tempering"
the temperature gauge of the fire-control system in the
sleeping compartment of the submarine, resulting in the deaths
of 20 people and injuries to 21 in the Russian Navy's worst
accident since August 2000, when 118 submariners on board the
Kursk had died.
"The sensor panels (of fire-safety system) are not even
covered with traditional protective glass, which has to be
broken before activating it. Besides this the Central Command
post can not see anyone manipulating the sensor panels in the
compartments. This is a designer's flaw and needs to be
rectified," the shipyard official said. PTI VS
SAK
