Rosneft to lift sunken dock in Kola Bay
It was used to dock the Northern Fleet’s largest warships and submarines, but sank in 2018 when work was underway to repair Russia’s ill-fated aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetzov.”
Shipyard No. 82 in Roslyakovo was handed over from the Navy to Rosneft in 2013. The state-owned oil company had big plans for the yard, as hope for major oil findings in Arctic waters were on the raise.
In August 2018, Rosneft announced intentions to build two major dry-docks for oil platforms at the yard. Two months later, the giant PD-50 floating dock sank, blocking most of the access to for larger vessels and platforms.
Roslyakovo is located in the Kola Bay north of Murmansk, and south of Severomorsk, the Northern Fleet’s main base for surface warships.
Plans are now underway to lift the nearly 200,000 tons heavy and 330 meters long dock, according to Murmansk Governor Andrey Chibis. It was during his end-of-the-year press briefing he told about the plans, but without specifying exact timing for the operation.
“It should be raised in any case, including for the development of shipyard No. 82,” Chibis said according to video recordings from the presser posted on his Vkontakte page. He said nothing about how technically salvage of the wreaked work will be done.
The accident, killing two people, happened as work was underway to float out the Northern Fleet’s carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
With no other docking alternatives in the Russian north, a new land dock was built at yard No. 35 in Murmansk where Admiral Kuznetsov has been under repair since last summer.
On December 22 last year, a small fire ignited onboard, but without damaged compared with the larger fire in December 2019.
There has lately been many rumours in social media about the aircraft carrier still not being seaworthy. Plans to remove the vessel from the dock to one of the berths of the shipyard was halted, according to a report from Ukrainian intelligence.
The report is not confirmed by any other sources.
“During examination of the ship’s hull by a diving team, it was found that the metal structures below the 3rd deck had significant corrosion. Inside is filled with muddy water, which makes it impossible to examine details from the inside,” the report claims, according to RBK-Ukraine.
In June 2021, the director of shipyard No. 35 was detained and charged for thefts and misusing funds aimed for work on Admiral Kuznetzov.
The case is scheduled for a city court in Murmansk on January 24, Severpost newsonline reports. If found guilt, the former director risks up to ten years in jail.
