OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2012.  On the 18th of May 2012 in Razboinik Bay an official ceremony was held to start operation of the Long-Term Storage Facility for reactor compartments of disposed nuclear submarines subordinate to FEC DalRAO (an affiliate of RosRAO).

The event was held in the framework of the cooperation agreement concluded between the Governments of Russia and Japan and in furtherance of the Agreement between ROSATOM and the Japanese Committee on Cooperation to Assist in Destruction of Nuclear Weapons.

At the ceremony, the Japanese equipment necessary for placing nuclear submarine reactor compartment on the long-term storage pad was officially handed over to FEC DalRAO. The equipment includes the towboat Sumire, two gantries of 10- and 32-ton capacity, correspondingly, and the transportation and transfer floating dry dock Sakura of 3,500 tons draught.

It should be noted that the transfer of this equipment is another step in the development of the Russian-Japanese cooperation in the field of nuclear submarines disposal. At the present time, the Japanese Government considers options of the cooperation continuation in part of financing the construction of the reactor compartment (RC) preparation and coating shop. The RCs will be then placed on the long-term storage pad in Razboinik Bay. An estimated cost of the said construction may amount to about USD 8.5 million. Such agreement is expected to sign this June.