(19 Aug 2000) Natural Sound
XFA
The "Normand Pioneer", carrying the British rescue mini-sub L-R-5 and its crew, has arrived at the rescue site in the Barents Sea, even though hope is all but lost for the crew of the crippled "Kursk" submarine.
Russia now admits that all 118 sailors aboard the submarine are probably dead.
Most of them apparently died in the first minutes after an explosion sent the Kursk to the bottom of the Barents Sea last Saturday.
Any survivors likely drowned as the ship filled with water.
The Norwegian "Pioneer" arrived at the scene of the submarine disaster in the Barents Sea ahead of schedule at 1500 GMT.
Russian navy officials flew to the "Normand Pioneer" to discuss attempts to rescue the crew of a sunken Russian nuclear submarine.
The Russians were flown by helicopter to the Norwegian diving ship, the "Seaway Eagle", then to the "Pioneer", to discuss details of the rescue effort as the ships moved ahead at top speed.
The British rescue team is set to begin work early on Sunday.
Royal Navy Commander Alan Hoskins, who is organising the British rescue team on board the "Pioneer", said his crew would continue with their mission until they were told by the Russians that they were not needed.
It is understood the British crew will first use a remotely operated vehicle which will be sent down to survey the scene.
It will set down navigational markers which will act as beacons to give the LR5 submersible a clear navigational picture of the submarine's position, in order to enable it to position itself accurately before attempting a rescue.
Hoskins said he was "confident" the highly manoeuvrable LR5 - likened to an "underwater helicopter" - would be able to "mate" with the Kursk and open the aft escape hatch, provided it had not been too badly damaged.
The Kursk has been lying under 108 metres (350 feet) of water for a week off northwestern Russia.
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