Russian submariners attended international congress in Istanbul

31.05.2011 48th International Submariners Congress took place in Istanbul, Turkey in May 23-26. Over 200 people from 15 countries took part in the congress.

Among participants were submariners associations from the US, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Argentine, Australia, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. Fifty two submariners represented Russia at the congress. Such important forum was conducted in Istanbul not by accident - in 2011 Turkish Navy celebrates 125th anniversary of its submarine fleet.

During the congress submariners went sightseeing over Istanbul - Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Naval Museum, Topkapi Palace; visited Istanbul naval base; took part in memorial service at the monument to lost submariners. Heads of delegations met on May 26.

International submariners congresses are held on the annual basis. The first congress took place in Paris in 1961; it was decided to establish headquarters in London then. Today, the international Submariners Association includes over 40 countries from different continents; among them are states having access to sea and which used to have it in the recent past.