Article Posted on : - Nov 14, 2008

Nerpa, Akula-class submarine. File photo.

MOSCOW (BNS): Investigators probing the mishap aboard the Russian nuclear submarine Nerpa said a crew member, who activated a fire safety system without permission, was responsible for the death of 20 people.

RIA Novosti quoting Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Investigation Committee of the Prosecutor General's Office said military investigators had indentified the person who activated without permission or any particular ground, a fire safety system aboard the submarine. "He is a sailor from the crew, and he has already confessed," he said.

Media reports quoted that criminal charges had already been brought against the crew member, and he faces a jail term of seven years. Meanwhile, experts are probing how the crew member got access to the system.

The official was quoted by the news agency as saying that only senior commanding officers have access to the fire safety system. “It is impossible to simply activate the system, which is protected from unauthorised activation by multiple levels of confirmation."

"We must find out how a person without authorisation managed to activate the system and determine whether the same situation could occur again," he said.

Investigators who had earlier said that there was a fault in the fire safety system have confirmed that it is in order. The submarine's reactor was not affected by the accident, which occurred in the nose of the vessel, and radiation levels on board remained normal.

A spokesperson for Russia's Amur Shipbuilding Plant said on Thursday that the sub will resume sea trials after the conclusion of the probe.

"The Russian Navy has said it will still commission the submarine, therefore, the sea trials will continue after the investigation and certain technical adjustments. The previous shipyard team will participate in future trials," said Marina Radayeva.

The Nerpa submarine started trials on October 27 in the Sea of Japan and the tragedy occurred late on November 1. Three submariners and 17 shipyard workers died in the mishap. There were 208 people onboard, 81 of them submariners. In an earlier accident, 118 sailors lost their lives when the Kursk nuclear submarine sunk in 2000.

Construction of the Akula II class Nerpa nuclear attack submarine started in 1991, but was suspended for over a decade due to lack of funding. Akula II class vessels are considered the quietest and deadliest of all Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines.