Captain and engineer acquitted in Nerpa submarine accident retrial

The Russian Pacific Fleet’s Military Court has acquitted Captain Dmitry Lavrentyev and Engineer Dmitry Grobov on trial for causing death of 20 by negligence on the Nerpa nuclear submarine in 2008. The ruling is based on the jury’s not guilty verdict that was passed last Friday.

On November 8, 2008, the Akula II class nuclear attack submarine Nerpa was running sea trials in the Sea of Japan in the western Pacific when its freon-based fire extinguishing system malfunctioned, killing 20 of the 208 people on board and injuring 21.

Lavrentyev was charged with abuse of power and Grobov was accused of causing death by negligence. The jury acquitted both men on September 14, 2011. The Supreme Court's Military Board overturned the verdict in May 2012 and ordered a retrial.

On April 26, the new jury ruled that both men were innocent of all charges brought against them by the prosecutor's office.  The prosecution has ten working days to file an appeal against the acquittal.

Defense lawyer Sergei Bondar told RIA Novosti that they hope the prosecution would not appeal against the decision or demand a retrial.

A military prosecutor told RIA Novosti earlier that they do not agree with the jury’s decision. He said that the jury did not understand all the details of the case clearly and were misled by the defense. The prosecution has said it will appeal against the ruling. They have until May 15 to do so.

 

Nerpa Shipyard Starts Dismantling of Nuc Sub Krasnodar

Utilization of the nuclear-powered submarine started at Nerpa Ship Repair Plant in Snezhnogorsk, Murmansk region. The dismantling is jointly sponsored by Russian state-led nuclear corporation Rosatom and Italian Sogin. Italy appropriates over EUR 5 mln for that purpose, reports vpk-news.ru.

 Nuclear-powered submarine K-148 Krasnodar was built by Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk and handed over to Northern Fleet in 1986.

K-148 Krasnodar is a third-generation nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, the lead sub of Project 949A Antei (known in NATO as Oscar II).

Length of Antei-class submarines is 154 meters; displacement is up to 18,000 tons; diving depth is down to 500 meters; submerged speed is up to 28 knots; crew is 130 men.

Each Antei sub is armed with 24 cruise missiles Granit.

Accused submarine accident perpetrators appeal military court judgment

Captain Dimitry Lavrentiev and specialist Dimitry Grobov after acquittal in the Pacific Naval Court

The attorneys of those accused of causing a November 2008 accident on the Nerpa nuclear submarine, which claimed the lives of 20 people, have decided to appeal the Pacific Fleet Military Tribunal's decision to a prosecutor to uphold the application seeking to submit the case, Dmitry Prokopenko, the defense's representative, told RIA Novosti.

If the court rules in favor, the prosecutor would be obliged to submit the case for reconsideration. In this case, the defense could file an appeal for scheduling a number of examinations, the results of which they believe could prove the defendants' innocence.

Prokopenko said that the appeal will be submitted in the upcoming days.

The Nerpa submarine was conducting sea trials in the Sea of Japan (the East Sea) on November 8, 2008, when its freon-based fire-extinguishing system activated. The freon gas started to displace the breathable air in the submarine. Of the 208 on board, 20 were killed and 21 were hospitalized with toxication.

Investigators brought charges against Capt. Dmitry Lavrentyev and Petty Officer Dmitry Grobov. The hearing was held behind closed doors. The Pacific Fleet Military Tribunal acquitted Lavrentyev and Grobov on October 14, 2011. On May 3, 2012, the Supreme Court reversed the decision.

The acquittal passed by the military court caused a mixed reaction amongst the public. It was reported that the relatives of the deceased were angry, while Larionov and Grobov's colleagues approved of the decision, believing that investigators had simply been looking for someone on whom to place the blame.

In March this year, the Nerpa submarine was leased by Russia to the Indian Navy for ten years.