By Feb 24, the investigative committee will finish an inquiry into the fire outbreak happened to SSBN Yekaterinburg , Russian vice premier Dmitry Rogozin told reporters adding that community would be informed if the sub had nuclear weapons on board during the incident.
“Till the month end, namely by February 24, investigators must present results of the inquiry into accident on nuclear-powered submarine Yekaterinburg. After that, vice premier Igor Sechin, defense minister and I will submit a report to the president about reasons, consequences, and preventive measures” , reports Interfax citing Rogozin .
Alongside with that, he declined to specify whether it was nuclear weapons on board the sub during the fire. “Normally, armament is unloaded during interim overhaul but not at light maintenance” , said Rogozin promising all that information would be promulgated upon termination of the inquiry.
Fire on board SSBN Yekaterinburg docked at the 82-th Ship Repair Plant occurred on Dec 29, 2011. The fire was caused by hot works; wooden scaffold around the sub ignited. Then flames moved to outer hull. Firefighters managed to neutralize the fire only by the evening of Dec 30.
Two criminal cases were initiated for offenses under Clause 347 (damaging of military property) and Clause 286, RF Criminal Code (abuse of office causing severe consequences).
It was found out during the investigation that the fire extinguishing was initially conducted by onboard means and the shipyard’s emergency parties. Later on, Northern Fleet and EMERCOM firefighters joined them.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , February 22, 2012; Image: mail