Nerpa completes construction of pontoons for transportation of decommissioned nuclear submarines

01.11.2007 // b-port.com

“Nerpa” Ship Repairing Yard is completing construction of pontoons for safe towage of decommissioned nuclear submarines

On Oct 30 Nerpa launched the third pontoon. Representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom, NUKEM Ltd, Lazurit CDB OJSC and Terna CJSC attended the ceremony.

The complex of four supporting pontoons is designed for safe towage of decommissioned submarines. Such pontoons have double boards and double decks and can support a submarine even in case of high waves. The head of the press service of Nerpa Irina Anzulatova says that this is a unique project: pontoons have never been used for such a purpose before. The pontoons have been designed by Lazurit CDB (Nizhniy Novgorod) with the financial support of the United Kingdom. NUKEM Ltd supervises the process. The construction of the fourth pontoon will be finished by mid Nov.

As soon as all the pontoons are ready, they will be tested: the boats will be fixed to an Echo class submarine decommissioned over 20 years ago. The submarine was towed to Nerpa a few days ago. After testing, the pontoons will be given to the Rescue Department of the Northern Navy.

After the launching ceremony, the sides discussed problems concerning the final stage of the project. The representative of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom was amazed and said that Nerpa did an excellent job.

The contract for the construction of the pontoons was signed in July 2006. The project is financed by the United Kingdom in the framework of AMEC program (Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation). The supervisor of the project is NUKEM Ltd (United Kingdom).

The executors are Terna CJSC – manager of the project; Lazurit CDB OJSC – designer; Nerpa FSUE – constructor. The operating organization is the Rescue Department of the Northern Navy.