23 Sep 2011

Russian nuclear submarine collides with boat

10:06 am on 23 September 2011

A Russian nuclear-powered submarine and a fishing boat have collided off the country's Pacific coast, damaging the outer shell of the naval vessel.

Russia's Interfax news agency says the reactor of the submarine St George the Conqueror was unaffected and there was no radiation leak.

Radiation levels after Wednesday's incident in Avachin Bay off Kamchatka Peninsula were normal, it said, citing a Russian navy source.

The submarine was moored at the nearby harbour of Vilyuchinsk for repairs to the hull.

Russia has the second largest submarine fleet in the world, after the United States. It is building a new fleet of nuclear submarines due to carry the next generation of Bulava missiles, which may be operational as early as next year.

In 2000, the nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea after explosions on board, killing all 118 seamen.