A Russian diesel-electric submarine suffered a serious accident while it was sailing through the Mediterranean Sea. The Novorossiysk, which was reported to be leaking fuel, was last seen on the surface off the coast of Gibraltar, south of Spain.
According to the Russian Telegram channel VChk-OGPU, the vessel experienced a malfunction in its fuel system while it was operating in the Mediterranean Sea on September 27.
Fuel entered its bilge compartment through the leak. Sources said that the crew does not have the necessary spare parts or trained specialists to carry out repair work.“Novorossiysk, currently on combat duty in the Mediterranean Sea, is experiencing serious technical problems. Due to damage in the fuel system, fuel is leaking directly into the hold,” the channel reported. The accident also caused other serious problems.
The channel reported that the one option being highlighted was to discharge the fuel into the sea, considering the state of the submarine's operation.
The fuel that has leaked and accumulated in the hold is an explosive hazard. “The source believes the crew has no choice but to start ‘pumping out the hold’ directly into the sea,” they reported.
The vessel is part of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, but it was not used for the the war in Ukraine. The 242-foot-long diesel electric vessel can stay underwater for 45 days and has a crew of around 52 people. It also has the capacity to carry nuclear Kalibr missiles, although it is currently believed to be unarmed.
The precise location of the incident is still unclear, and Russian authorities have not confirmed the reports. The presence of the vessel in the Mediterranean has caused concerns of a potential escalation or an environmental disaster.
The situation is reminiscent of the Kursk submarine disaster, which occurred on August 12, 2000, when the Russian Oscar II submarine exploded in the Barents Sea during its first naval exercise. The explosion had occurred due to leaked hydrogen peroxide colliding with a catalyst, causing the failure of a Type 65-76A torpedo in the forward torpedo room.
A second blast ripped through the vessel, killing all 118 of its crew members and sinking the vessel.