Russian Navy Plans to Commission New Search-and-Rescue Ship in 2014

The Russian Navy announced its plans on commissioning a new search-and-rescue ship in 2014 which will incorporate DIVEX deep-sea diving system, RIA Novosti informs.

In the aftermath of the nuclear submarine Kursk disaster dating back to 2000, which took the toll of 118 crewmembers on board and shortage of adequate rescue equipment which proved to be vital in such situations, Russia decided to renew its fleet so as to be able to conduct rescue operations on its own.

As a result, construction of the first rescue ship to be built in post-Soviet Russia, Igor Belousov was launched in 2005. The construction, which included mounting of deep-sea diving system GVK-450, was taking place at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg by Lazurit Design Bureau and was supposed to be complete in 2010. The primary goal of the ship was to be capable of detecting damaged submarines.

However due to the failure to complete the construction and stick to the deadlines, in 2011 Russian Defense Ministry declined to implement its contract part and selected Tetis Pro, one of the largest Russian company specializing in the designing, constructing and supplying diving and subsea equipment, as the new supplier , installer and tester of the vessel. The ship will contain deep-sea diving system produced by Scottish firm DIVEX.

Currently, all Russian fleets are characterized by Panther Plus and Tiger submersibles of British origin.