Far East shipyards completed Russo-Japanese submarine utilization program

17.03.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: transportation of Victor III class nuc sub for utilization (Reuters)

Far East defense shipyard Zvezda (at Bolshoi Kamen) has completed realization of Russo-Japanese project associated with utilization of five nuclear-powered submarines decommissioned from Pacific Fleet (PF), informed Wednesday RIA Novosti referring to press service of Primorsky Krai administration.

Intergovernmental agreement on dismantlement and utilization of five Victor III class nuclear-powered submarines was signed in Nov 2005. The project was named Star of Hope. According to the contract, Japanese government being interested in nuclear safety of Asian Pacific region subsidized the project.

"Implementation of Project Star of Hope began in 2006. Since that time five decommissioned submarines have been scrapped. Four subs were utilized at Zvezda shipyard in Primorsky Krai; fifth one – at Kamchatka", specified the interviewee.

According to him, a memorial will be founded at central entrance of Zvezda shipyard in honor of project completion. The opening ceremony will take part on March 20. Mrs. Nisimura, Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs will attend the festivities.

Russo-Japanese partnership in prevention of environmental problems in Pacific Ocean started as early as 1993; the possible ecological crisis might be caused by "ships cemeteries", i.e. written-off Soviet nuclear subs. At that time was tied the first intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in Russia's nuclear waste utilization.

First stage of the project implementation was construction of floating system Landysh designed for reprocessing of radioactive effluents; in 2001 the system was put into service at Zvezda shipyard. Radioactive effluents purified by Landysh become absolutely safe. Treated water which was demonstratively tried by Russian and Japanese experts is put to the Sea of Japan.

Far East shipyard Zvezda successfully implements another international project – Global Partnership – which is also oriented at dismantlement and utilization of Russian nuclear subs written-off in Primorsky Krai and Kamchatka.

Under Global Partnership program which is planned to last till 2012, special plants for submarine scrapping and utilization were built at two Russian defense shipyards located in Bolshoi Kamen, Primorsky Krai and Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region. The project is financed by the U.S., Canada, Japan and West European countries.

Global Partnership funds subsidized repair of railway line Bolshoi Kamen – Smolianinovo used for transportation of nuclear waste from Zvezda yard to Trans-Siberian Railroad in special-purpose wagons. Next, nuclear waste is delivered to Mayak plant (at Chelyabinsk) for further treatment.