Canada and Russia recently completed a world first in transporting fuelled nuclear submarines as dry cargo on the deck of a specialized heavy lift ship. The first of two submarines, a Victor I Class with two nuclear reactors, was delivered to the Zvezdochka shipyard in Severodvinsk, Northern Russia, on August 22 and the second was delivered on September 1, 2006. Dutch maritime company Dockwise was contracted to transport the submarines.

Because of the submarines’ poor technical state, a normal tow was considered unsafe and could have been a great threat to the environment. The transportation of these two submarines as dry cargo eliminated the potential environmental risks associated with a tow. The two submarines were embarked at a naval base near Murmansk, in Northern Russia, 850km away from Severodvinsk.

Aging nuclear-powered submarines in Russia pose serious security and environmental threats due the amount of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste they contain. Through the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, Canada has been engaged with the Russian Federation in dismantling de-commissioned nuclear powered submarines in Severodvinsk since August 2004. To date, 14 nuclear reactors have been defuelled and five nuclear submarines have been completely dismantled. The intent is to complete the dismantling of 12 submarines and the defuelling of 24 nuclear reactors by March 2008.

Photo Credit: FSUE Zvezdochka