|
 |
| A TV grab from Russian NTV channel shows
the deep-water rescue submersible vehicle AS-28 'Priz' on the ocean
surface during the rescue
operation. |
MOSCOW,
Aug. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Pacific Fleet rescue service has received an order
from the headquarters of the Russian navy to wind up the rescue operation over
the stranded mini-submarine and return from the Berezovskaya Bay off the
Kamchatka coast, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Sunday.
"We received an
order to call back all forces, participating in the (rescue) operation," deputy
chief of the main headquarters of the Russian navy Vladimir Pepelyaev said.
Meanwhile, the
British and American rescuers who participated in lifting the Russian
mini-submarine are leaving Russia later on Sunday, the Interfax quoted a Russian
navy spokesman as saying.
After the
successful rescue, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Commander of the
Russian Pacific Fleet Admiral Viktor Fedorov both expressed gratitude to
Britain, the United States and Japan, that have participated in rescuing the
stranded Russian sailors.
"Taking advantage
of this opportunity, I would like to express gratitude to our sailors,
particularly our Pacific Fleet sailors, and everybody who extended a helping
hand to us - primarily of course the British navy, the naval forces of the
United States of America and the naval forces of Japan," Ivanov told journalists
on Sunday.
"We are especially
grateful to British rescuers who controlled the work of the Scorpio submersible.
It is their actions that helped AS-28 to surface on Sunday and rescued the lives
of our sailors," Fedorov said, speaking in Vladivostok at a farewell ceremony to
ships of the Pacific Fleet.
 |
| Crew members of the Russian mini-submarine
AS-28 'Priz' crew arrive at
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. |
Fedorov said the
successful operation on rescuing the Pacific Fleet bathyscaphe AS-28 has proved
again the need for cooperation between sailors of various countries.
The Russia's
mini-submarine had been entangled in 190 meters of water off the Pacific Coast
for three days with seven crew members onboard before a British "Scorpio"
submersible robot cut the vessel free of cables and helped it to surface at
around 4:26 p.m.local time (0126GMT) on Sunday.
All seven crew
members are in satisfactory condition and can walk unaided on board the rescue
ship Alages, and would be brought to the coast in about four hours.
Enditem
| 
Breaking
News 
