MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - The new commander of the Russian Navy told reporters Monday about the results of an investigation into a rescue operation in the Pacific Ocean and how he saw the fleet's future at his first news conference in his new capacity. Admiral Vladimir Masorin said officers had been disciplined for negligence after an investigation into the rescue operation of a mini sub that became trapped near the Pacific seafloor on August 4 and was only rescued by a British team three days later.
Masorin said: "The [Priz] AS-28 [mini sub] sank as a result of the improper execution of duties by personnel while conducting a difficult undersea operation."
He said that Rear Admiral Alexander Zaika, the deputy commander of Russian forces in the North Eastern District, had been relieved of his duties and several other officials had been disciplined.
According to Masorin, a decision to assign an unskilled operator to conduct the rescue operation using a Russian-made underwater robot, Venom, led to the vehicle being damaged.
"We had the Venom vehicle, but its staff operator was not there, and nobody was on hand to substitute him," the officer said.
Masorin said the Navy would not acquire two rescue mini-subs, Scorpio or Panther, this year, but the Russian Defense Ministry has said that it intends to purchase the vessels overseas.
"The decision to purchase the mini subs has been made, but it has not been formally documented," he said. "We spoke with the British company that manufactures rescue mini subs, and they said they do not have them on sale now. The company requires a 25% advance payment and promises to produce a mini sub within 20 weeks."
"We do not have the money today, but the sum is included in a 2006 state order," the commander added.
The new commander acknowledged that Russia's rescue equipment was not up to world standards.
"We must be equal to other countries in assisting rescue operations because we are a signatory to a number of international agreements on sea rescue," Admiral Vladimir Masorin said.
According to Masorin, it will take seven years to modernize the Navy's six mini-subs. He also said the command planned to focus on modernizing its underwater rescue vessels and improving diver-training programs, and that some ships would be equipped with state-of-the-art deep-sea diving systems.
He also highlighted the importance of Russia's involvement in international rescue agreements and emphasized that no country could rescue its submarine crews alone.
The crew of the AS-28 may soon meet with their British rescuers, the navy commander said. The admiral explained that the British rescuers did not meet with the crew immediately after the rescue operation because the Russian submariners required medical attention.
When talking about the Navy's future, he said Russia would focus on the development of its strategic naval nuclear forces.
"We will prioritize the development of Russia's strategic naval nuclear forces," he said.
Masorin said that other branches of the Navy, particularly naval aviation and the marines, would receive the appropriate attention as well. However, he also said the Russian fleet should only be present in those regions where it was really needed. "We are taking the priorities of the fleet into account," Masorin said. "The fleet must be present in the regions where it is necessary to demonstrate our power and flag."
