SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE NS 'KURSK' UTILIZATION

摘要

Utilization of nuclear-powered submarines (NPS) is carried out according to the utilization technology developed by the research and design enterprise "Onega". Technological concepts of the complex utilization of NPSs assume the following stages: 1. NPS preparation for utilization; 2. defuelling of the nuclear core; 3. vessel arrangement on the slip; 4. cutting out of the three-compartment block; 5. preparation of the three-compartment block for interim storage; 6. cutting out and dismantlement of the missile compartment; 7. dismantlement of the equipment, devices, pipelines, and power cables; 8. hull cutting into large sections, cutting sections, equipment, and cables; 9. launching of the three-compartment block for transportation to the interim storage site. Utilization of the NPS "Kursk" will be carried out according to the same technological scheme with certain specific features. Figure 1 displays the utilization scheme for the NPS "Kursk". The specific technological features of the utilization scheme for the NPS "Kursk" are caused by the following reasons: 1. The "Kursk" NPS is a damaged vessel and the scope of destruction is unpredictable. 2. Long-term storage of the NPS "Kursk" in floating slip #50 would encumber systematic docking of ships and vessels of the Arctic Fleet. Because of these reasons, the enterprises and organization of the Russian Navy and industry considered various variants of transport and technological scheme for NPS "Kursk" handling after its arrangement at the floating slip #50 in order to choose the optimal variant with respect to safety, duration, and cost. Based on these considerations, the variant which included utilization at SRE "Nerpa" was chosen; the plant is the closest one in the region that is capable of carrying out the utilization of the NPS in question.