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International cooperation leads to Russian sub rescue

A tense ordeal that brought back painful memories of the Kursk submarine disaster five years ago ended in sighs of relief Sunday, after a crash international effort saved seven Russian seamen stranded on the Pacific Ocean floor in a cold and disabled minisub, with their oxygen rapidly dwindling. Both the happy outcome and the subsequent expressions of gratitude were in sharp contrast to the aftermath of the Kursk disaster, which killed 118 sailors in August 2000 and left lingering bitterness over alleged official lies and incompetence.

The crew of the AS-28 Priz submarine - itself a rescue vessel - were shown on Russian TV, walking and smiling wanly, after spending nearly three days huddled together to conserve air and warmth, listening for sounds of help. Russian officials were full of praise for the 29-man British team that rushed to the site off the remote Kamchatka Peninsula, bringing a Scorpio submersible robot. The Scorpio cut the Priz free from debris in which it had become ensnared during naval war games on Thursday. The crew had about a day",s worth of air left when they were rescued.

"The help of the Royal Navy of Great Britain was crucial in this operation," said Adm. Viktor Fyodorov, commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet. "We have great admiration for the high professionalism and technical capability of our British colleagues, accomplished this difficult mission in just 3-1/2 hours." It was an unprecedented display of international cooperation. American specialists were also on hand with a Scorpio, and Japanese naval units were steaming toward the scene in Beryozovaya Bay, one of the most militarized areas in Russia.