Kursk hits new hitches

The Kursk remains suspended beneath a huge barge

The operation to bring the Kursk into dock has hit unexpected technical snags which will delay it until at least the end of the week.

The two huge pontoons being used to raise the Kursk higher in the water, in order to float it into its berth in Roslyakovo harbour, have been found to be not stable enough, Dutch salvage firm Mammoet told BBC News Online.

Extra equipment has been brought in to help overcome technical problems

Spokeswoman Larissa von Seumeren said urgent modifications were now being made.

The deputy commander of Russia's Northern Fleet, Rear Admiral Anatoly Smolyakov, said the problems had not been foreseen.

"While placing the left-hand side pontoon in the water and attaching it we discovered some technical particularities that the Dutch (salvage) teams had not taken into account," he said.

Raising the Kursk was seen as a technical triumph

Local people - including those in nearby Murmansk - have expressed concern that the Kursk's two nuclear reactors may have been destabilised during the lifting operation.

But Mammoet spokeswoman Larissa von Seumeren said safety checks radiation levels were being monitored 24 hours a day, and there was no problem.

Radiation checks were carried out throughout the lifting operation, and as the wreck was towed into port, but officials say levels remained normal throughout.

The raising of the wreck was seen as a triumph, especially as repeated setbacks had pushed the operation perilously close to the Arctic winter.

After such a huge project, we are very proud of what we have achieved

Mammoet spokeswoman Larissa von Seumeren

"I think after such a huge project as we have executed, where you use all new technology, cutting the holes, cutting off the bow, we are very proud of what we have achieved," said Ms von Seumeren.

Once the Kursk has been docked, operations will begin to recover weapons and bodies, and find out what went wrong.

The submarine sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea in August 2000, after suffering two on-board explosions. All 118 men on board died, despite an international rescue effort.

The bow, which remains on the seabed, is due to be recovered separately next year.