Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Yekaterinburg suffered from large fire late Dec 2011 will be delivered to Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (Severodvinsk) not earlier than May 2012, reported RIA Novosti on Jan 16 referring to a shipyard’s official.
On Dec 29, 2011 the fire occurred in Project 667BDRM submarine Yekaterinburg passing repair in 50-th floating dock of the 82-nd Ship Repair Plant in Roslyakovo, Murmansk region. Supposedly, the fire was caused by hot works; wooden scaffold around the sub ignited. Then flames moved to outer hull and damaged special rubber anti-sonar coating. The fire area was 150 sq meters. Firefighters managed to neutralize the fire on Dec 30. According to EMERCOM, nine persons suffered from the fire on the submarine, i.e. seven crewmen and two firefighters.
It was earlier reported that SSBN Yekaterinburg would pass overhaul at Zvezdochka , but this information was officially confirmed only on Jan 16.
“As a result of fire, some outboard equipment of the sub’s sonar was disabled; bow parts were damaged as well. According to experts, the fire did not affect other onboard systems. The submarine will move to Severodvinsk in May 2012 with opening of navigation in the White Sea. As for amended estimates, after-fire recovery works could take six months” , said the interviewee.
SSBN Yekaterinburg was to be laid up for scheduled repairs in Dec 2012. In this regard, the recovery works will be conducted along with planned overhaul; finally, the sub’s service life will be prolonged for 5 years. Totally, repair will take about two years.
The interviewee pointed out that in 2012 Zvezdochka would finish repair of SSBN Verkhoturye and SSBN Novomoskovsk which will help to keep stability in Russia’s sea-based nuclear deterrence force.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , January 18, 2012; Image: razm