Norwegian-Russian Experts to Examine Sunken Nuclear Submarine K-159

A Norwegian-Russian Expert Group is underway to examine the radioactive contamination at the sunken Russian nuclear submarine K-159 in the Barents Sea.

The submarine K-159 has been lying at a depth of 246 meters in Kildinbanken, less than 130 kilometers from the Norwegian border, since 2003.

Researchers aboard the research vessel Ivan Petrov are now investigating the levels of radioactive contamination in the water, sediments and fish in the area where the submarine rests. They will also examine whether there has been any leakage of radioactive materials from the submarine.

Kildinbanken is an important fishing area and there is considerable international interest for updated measurements from the expedition funded through the Government’s nuclear plan.

Participating in the survey are scientists from the Norwegian Radiation Protection, Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Environment and Life Sciences Institute (NMBU / CERAD), Russia’s Federal Agency for hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring, Roshydromet.

International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, participates as an observer.

The scope of spent nuclear fuel, reactors and radioactive waste on the seabed in the Kara Sea and the Russian part of the Barents Sea is large.

The Soviet Union and later Russia, stored radioactive waste here until 1992.

Subsea World News Staff, September 02, 2014; Image: nrpa