Nerpa completed third stage of sea trials

23.09.2009
Nuclear submarine Nerpa has successfully completed third stage of sea trials in the Sea of Japan, said Vyacheslav Shport, Khabarovsky Krai Governor on Wednesday briefing.

Repeated trials of Nerpa started on July, 10. The shipyard expended 1.9 bln rub for submarine's failure recovery.

Chief of Staff Nikolai Makarov has previously said that the submarine would be instantly handed over to India after trials termination. The source of Interfax reported that the transfer most likely would be held in spring, 2010.

Trial crew consists of Russian civilian experts and Indian-Russian naval servicemen. Indian crew of the submarine is expected to arrive in autumn.

As a consequence of freon release happened in Nerpa on Nov 8, 2008 during its sea trials in the Sea of Japan, 20 died and 21 were intoxicated out of 208 men attending trials. Seaman Dmitry Grobov was accused in "causing death carelessly to two or more persons" as per part 3 article 109 of the RF Criminal Code which provides deprivation of freedom on term up to five years. Supposedly, the seaman incorrectly adjusted an air temperature sensor in living compartment and that led to emergency actuation of firefighting system LOH (submarine, volumetric, chemical). Psychiatric examination ruled Dmitry Grobov sane. The results of the case investigation are uncertain yet.

The construction of Nerpa nuclear submarine was launched in 1993 under Project 971 at Amurskiy Shipbuilding Company. In 2002 the works were frozen due to lack of financing; the submarine was floated out only in June 4, 2006. In 2004 they started fitting-out the sub under Project 971I to lease it for India (10 years, $50 mln per year).

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Nerpa nuclear submarine (Reuters)