[BykrBayb]

I don't have a source, but I recall reading similar reports. The reports I read said there were better (more recent & complete) maps available commercially. Russians weren't mentioned. Later, I read something to the effect that they were given updates, and were expected to incorporate those updates into their maps (charts, whatever), but they didn't. That makes sense to me. I can't imagine the Navy would draw up all new maps every time a new feature is discovered.

[Herakles]

Here's one, I don't have sourse of the orginal document I read;

"Assigning the blame for the collision is becoming an interesting exercise in how bureaucracies operate. Apparently a satellite ocean mapping project had spotted the sea mount, which the San Francisco hit, several years ago. But the navy never updated its charts."

Reference:http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=htsub