Global Security Newswire

Japan agreed Thursday to fund the dismantling of three decommissioned Russian nuclear submarines under a joint program for handling aging vessels in Russia's Pacific Fleet, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, May 16, 2006).

Japanese officials visited the Russian province of Primorsky Krai on Aug. 1 to monitor the dismantlement effort.

"A contract signed at the Zvezda military shipyard Aug. 2 … stipulates complete dismantling of three Victor 3 class nuclear submarines by the end of 2008," said Japanese Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Sekiguchi Masakazu.

The submarines would be disassembled under the "Star of Hope" program, a project fully financed by Japan that was started by former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during a 2003 trip to Russia.

Russia has an estimated 30 decommissioned nuclear submarines in ports across the far eastern region of the nation, according to reports.

 "As far as I know, Russia has pledged to scrap all nuclear submarines decommissioned from the Pacific Fleet by the end of 2010, and Japan is willing to provide assistance to this project," Masakazu said.

Workers would remove spent nuclear fuel from the submarines' reactors and move it into storage.  They would seal and store the reactors.  The hull of each craft would be cut into three sections, and the bow and stern would be removed for destruction.

One of the Russian submarines has already been taken apart, Masakazu said.  Japanese and Russian officials are discussing the dismantlement of a Charlie 1 nuclear submarine now docked at a Russian base on the Kamchatka Peninsula (RIA Novosti, Aug. 3).