RS Assesses Risk of Submarine Transit

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) under the cooperation with ОАО SOGAZ has carried out a risk safety appraisal of the submarine Ho Chi Minh for the Vietnamese Navy during its sea transit from the port of St Petersburg to the port of Kaliningrad.

The scope of the survey included an assessment of activities accomplished to prepare the submarine for sea towing as well as check of compliance with the requirements stipulated by the transit project. The readiness of the submarine for the passage has been assessed: its technical condition, provision with life saving appliances, navigational equipment and communication facilities. Hull strength and stability calculations for the submarine have also confirmed the opportunity for its safe passage by sea.

Besides, the RS experts have checked the readiness of ships to be involved in the towing operation including the tow ship. The latter was the multipurpose rescue and salvage ship Spasatel Karev. Due to its high ice class, m/s Spasatel Karev is advantageous for such operations under harsh winter conditions. At the end of January 2014, the towing operation was successfully completed and the submarine was taken to the place of destination over a route of approximately 600 miles.

rs-class.org