Fire on Russian nuclear sub under repair at northern shipyard

A Russian nuclear submarine undergoing repairs caught fire Tuesday, officials said, although reports indicated the vessel was not carrying nuclear fuel. “There was a fire” on the submarine at the Zvyozdochka shipyard in the northern city of Severodvinsk, according to a representative who answered the phone at the local emergency services centre. “They are putting out the fire,” she told reporters. “There is nothing to worry about.”

The nuclear fuel had been unloaded from Orel before it was put up on dry dock. The reactor is turned off. No workers or crew members were injured during the fire.

Ilya Zhitomirsky, spokesman for the United Shipbuilding Corporation

Ilya Zhitomirsky, spokesman for the United Shipbuilding Corporation which manages the facility, said the vessel in question is the Orel, a cruise missile type sub with two reactors that is classified as Oscar-II by NATO. The Orel has been under repair since November 2013. Sources told Russian agencies the blaze started when some insulation material caught fire during welding work onboard the vessel.

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