Kursk Operation Commander Says Sub May Be Lifted In Small Hours Of October 6

The Kursk nuclear submarine may be lifted from the Barents Sea bottom on the night of October 6, said Mikhail Motsak, commander of the Kursk salvage operation. Spokesman for the Northern Fleet Vladimir Navrotsky quoted Motsak as saying Wednesday morning that the Kursk lifting might take place on October 5 or 6 as work on many holes would proceed faster thus advancing the lifting schedule. The spokesman for the Smit International company said in his turn that 10 other plugs could be installed on the Kursk hull by Wednesday evening. However, he noted, everything would depend on the weather conditions. According to earlier reports, head of Mammoet Frans van Seumeren thinks the Kursk might be lifted only early next week - on October 7 or 8.