Russian rescue vessel due to be delivered at last

摘要

Launched in October 2012, Igor Belousov was ordered by the Russian Ministry of Defence and laid down in December 2005. The vessel is designed to rescue crews from disabled submarines (DISSUBs), and supply air, energy and life-saving equipment to submarines, if required. The new unit is planned to be commissioned into the Russian Navy in 2014, the need for such a vessel having been emphasized by the Kursk tragedy in 2000.Built at Admiralty Shipyards in Russia, the vessel is said to be 97.8m overall with a breadth of 17.2m, and displacement of circa 5,000tonnes. The vessel will be fitted with a deep submergence rescue vessel (DSRV) and diving bell and have a maximum speed of 15knots and accommodation for 120 rescued submariners (60 in pressure chambers).