Fishermen Rammed at Nuclear Sub

23.09.2011 Fishing seiner Donets collided with nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) K-433 Svyatoi Georgy Pobedonosets staying off the Avachinskaya Harbor. The submarine suffered damages of external hull; it was not reported about seiner's damages.

Russian Navy command affirmed the collision of fishing seiner with Pacific Fleet (PF) submarine. According to defense ministry, no submariners suffered in the incident, radiation background remains normal, the sub's nuclear reactor got no damages, reports Interfax.

The incident occurred in the night of Sept 21 in the Avachinskaya Harbor. Seiner Donets was passing-by fishing trawler Kormchiy and overlooked the submarine staying off harbor. The ship collision occurred through fault of the seiner's crew and is classified as "navigation incident", reports Interfax-AVN referring to a source in Pacific Fleet HQ.

The submarine was in surface position with navigation lights on, explained PF Commander's press secretary Capt 1 rank Roman Martov. As for him, a watchman noticed approaching seiner, tried to get on radio contact and ejected flares, but the ship was irresponsive.

After the incident, an examination party boarded the seiner. It was found out and reported to port authorities that the shipmaster was not in the bridge, and all crewmen were drunk, said the PF spokesman.

At present, SSBN Svyatoi Georgy Pobedonosets is moored at Viliuchinsk and undergoes repair works.

Project 667BDR Calmar (on NATO classification Delta III) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine K-433 Svyatoi Georgy Pobedonosets was commissioned in 1980. Displacement is 13,000 tons; max speed is 24 knots; test depth is 320 meters; crew is 130 men. The submarine is armed with 16 ballistic missiles RSM-50.