In pictures: Kursk on the surface

The dangerous mission to raise the Russian submarine Kursk from the Barents Sea is over - but the investigation into what caused the giant nuclear vessel to sink, with the loss of 118 lives, is far from complete.

Now the boat is in dry dock in Roslyakovo, investigators can begin picking through the shattered compartments looking for anything which might shed light on the causes and aftermath of the disaster.

Submerged for over a year, the Kursk shows visible signs of damage (Picture: Mammoet Smit)

A net covers the forward part of the boat: the wrecked bow section was cut off by divers and remains on the sea bed

Smashed windows in the Kursk's giant 'sail' hint at the chaos inside

The conning tower still carries its brightly painted emblems

Investigators will begin by examining the conning tower - other parts of the Kursk will take several days to be made safe

On the deck, investigators held a moments silence. More bodies are expected to be recovered from the hull

A more hazardous task will be to recover the Kursk's nuclear arsenal. Constant radiation checks are being made.