Russian Navy’s ensign – St. Andrew’s flag – was triumphantly hoisted on the autonomous deep-sea submersible Consul at JSC Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center, reported Russian Defense Ministry Press Service.
Deputy defense minister Gen. Nikolai Makarov endorsed the submersible’s acceptance certificate in Sept 2011 after state trials.
As was earlier planned, Consul submersible was commissioned by the order of Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief.
State trials of the Consul deep-sea submersible were completed in May 2011 with effective submergence to the depth of 6,270 meters in the North Atlantic.
Project Consul was developed by JSC Malakhit Design Bureau (St. Petersburg).
The submersible was built by JSC Admiralteyskie Verfi shipyard by the order of Russian defense ministry and is used for underwater technical and search/rescue works, planting of transponder beacons on underwater objects, lifting and transportation ashore equipment with the mass of up to 200 kg, preparatory works by manipulators on underwater objects for further lifting by a platform ship.
The hull is made of high-tensile titanium alloy purposely developed by the Prometei Central Research Institute of Construction Materials. Length of the submersible is 8.4 meters, beam/height is 3.9 meters, weight is 26 tons, crew is 2-3 men, endurance is 12 hours, speed is 3 knots.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , December 15, 2011; Image: Rus Navy