Posted on 07/10/2019 1:19:29 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Radiation levels in the water around a sunken Soviet-era nuclear submarine are some 100,000 times higher than normal, scientists have warned, raising fears that the K-278 Komsomolets may still pose a threat 30 years after it sunk.
Norwegian scientists have been analyzing the area around the submarine, which came to rest on the floor of the Norwegian Sea after sinking on April 7, 1989. The accident—caused by a fire in the engine room—resulted in the deaths of 42 of the Komsomolets' 69 crew. Most were killed by radiation exposure while waiting for the Soviet navy to rescue them.
The 400 feet long submarine now sits one mile underwater, around 100 miles southwest of Norway's Bear Island, in one of the largest fishing grounds on Earth.
Research teams regularly check on the status of the wreck. Russian scientists detected low levels of radiation in the water around the Komsomolets in the 1990s and 2007...
Norwegian teams survey the site every year, and noted elevated concentrations of radioactive cesium-137 nearby between 1991 and 1993... However, no leaks have ever been found.
But of three samples taken Monday using a remote-controlled mini-submarine, one shows radiation levels 100,000 times higher than expected, Norwegian state broadcaster NRK reported.
Hilde Elise Heldal of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research said she was not overly surprised that radiation was picked up, given past tests that have also recorded radioactive pollution. "The results are preliminary," she told TV2. "We will examine the samples thoroughly when we get home."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
NRK explained that the scientists are using the Ægir 6000 mini-sub used in this round of tests, which is expected to give more accurate readings than older equipment.
Yikes
For some reason, that seems high.
“The 400 feet long submarine now sits one mile underwater, around 100 miles southwest of Norway’s Bear Island, in one of the largest fishing grounds on Earth.”
Wow, better get ready for some really big fish soon.
Socialism is the gift which keeps on giving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_submarine_K-278_Komsomolets
K-278 had a double hull, the inner one being composed of titanium,
On 7 April 1989, while under the command of Captain 1st Rank Evgeny Vanin and running submerged at a depth of 335 metres (1,099 ft) about 180 kilometres (100 nmi) southwest of Bear Island (Norway),[4] fire broke out in the engine room due to a short-circuit,[5] and even though watertight doors were shut, the resulting fire spread through bulkhead cable penetrations. The reactor scrammed and propulsion was lost. Electrical problems spread as cables burned through, and control of the boat was threatened. An emergency ballast tank blow was performed and the submarine surfaced eleven minutes after the fire began. Distress calls were made, and most of the crew abandoned ship.
The fire continued to burn, fed by the compressed air system. At 15:15,[6] several hours after the boat surfaced, it sank in 1,680 metres (5,510 ft) of water,[citation needed] about 250 kilometres (135 nmi) SSW off Bear Island.[6] The commanding officer and four others who were still on board entered the escape capsule and ejected it. Only one of the five to reach the surface was able to leave the capsule and survive before it sank again in the rough seas.
I’ll pass on the Norwegian prawns.
Two headed fish should be easier to catch.
Why is my lutefisk glowing?......................
In US nuclear plants, fuel rods (both new and spent) are stored in “swimming pools” that put about 14 feet of water between the rods and people who work in the plants. That’s considered perfectly safe. A mile of water is a lot more than 14 feet, so I don’t think there is anything to worry about. In fact, I’ve long believed that the safest (and cheapest) way to dispose of nuclear waste is to dump it on some deep area of the sea floor. Instead, we spend many billions of dollars and decades of time trying to get approval to bury it in a salt mine in Nevada. Why?
Lutefish could be safer now due to ultrapasterization
It shall resurrect Godzilla!!
They should have bubble wrapped it and delivered it back to Soviet waters.
dump it on some deep area of the sea floor. Instead, we spend many billions of dollars and decades of time trying to get approval to bury it in a salt mine in Nevada. Why?
/jk
I don't know.
Boudreau told Thibedeau that he was raising genetically modified 3 legged chickens because Popeye's Chicken wanted more drumsticks.
Thibedeaux asked if they tasted the same.
Boudreau said, I don't know, I haven't been able to catch one yet.
What do they consider “normal” for a sunken nuke sub?! I will say whatever they’re measuring is “normal”!
What a horrible and frightening way for the crew to die. Submariners are a brave bunch.
Snare it with an electro-magnet, drag it over to Murmansk, and drop it.
...and hopefully MechaGodzilla, of the Hiroshima Godzilla’s!
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