Dutch companies hope for agreement with Russia on Kursk-retrieval terms

Dutch firms making up an international consortium hope for the earliest conclusion of a contract with Russia's Central Design Bureau Rubin for raising the Russian sunken nuclear submarine Kursk from the Barents sea bottom. This was reported by Lars Walder, press secretary of the Smith Tak company. He said the sides were "very close to signing a contract already several weeks ago". All financial matters are to be settled very soon with the participation of the Russian government. "We must have guarantees that money will be paid to us", said the Smith Tak press secretary. Walder's opposite number Barbara Malder from the Heerema Marine Contractors which is another Dutch participant in the international consortium, said: "We don't have to wait for half a year to coordinate all questions". Representatives of the Dutch firms explained that the consortium has already held several rounds of talks with Rubin and the international foundation Kursk. Except personal meetings the sides are also holding telephone and written consultations. No timeframe for the next round has yet been set, said Walder. For the time being, four foreign firms are supposed to participate in the upcoming Kursk retrieval operation -- Halliburton (Norway), Smith Tak, Heerema Marine Contractors (the Netherlands), Mammoet (Belgium/the Netherlands). In the operation, scheduled for late summer-early autumn, Halliburton divers are expected to be involved. Heerema will offer use of its floating crane Tialf of 14,000-tonne lifting capacity, which can raise the entire wrecked Kursk sub, and participate in designing work. The company Smith Tak is ready to provide technical facilities. The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk got into accident and sank in the Barents Sea in 2000 August. All crewmen on its board died.

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