Halibut Hangar

Originally Published June 20, 2008; Updated and Republished July 16, 2008:

Navy and Army divers will conduct a joint training exercise to raise the Juliett-class submarine K-77, (1960s) cum Russian Submarine Museum.

The submarine was purchased by the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation in 2002 and placed pier-side at Collier Point Park, Providence, Rhode Island. It conducted public tours, until its freak pier-side sinking in April 2007.

The Providence River bathymetry at the sinking site barely covers the sunken submarine. The salvage divers will repair the damaged main ballast tanks and LP air pumps will slowly fill them until K-77 once again floats.

The divers get some practice and Providence can reopen their submarine museum, after a lot of pier-side clean-up and repair.

Web:

• UPDATED 07/30/2008 AP, Salvage teams raise sunken Russian Sub Museum.
• UPDATED 07/16/2008 Joint Navy, Army Operation to Salvage Sunken Former Soviet Sub Nears Completion. Salvage divers are making progress. They've righted the 49^o list and are applying the patches necessary to pump air in to force the water out.
• Navy, Army Divers Work to Raise Sunken Former Soviet Sub
• Flickr Photo, K 77 - Julett 484 and Flickr, K 77 Rising - U.S. Navy and Army Divers Photos