Russia's only aircraft carrier catches fire; 6 believed injured and 1 missing

[Boats]

Russia's only aircraft carrier catches fire; 6 believed injured and 1 missing
By: Zahra Ullah & Darya Tarasova - CNN - 12-12-19
RE: https://us.cnn.com/2019/12/12/europe...ntl/index.html

Moscow (CNN)Russia's only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, caught fire on Thursday morning during repair work in Russia's Arctic Sea port of Murmansk, according to Russian state news agencies.

Six people are thought to have been injured and one person is believed to be missing so far, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

The fire broke out during maintenance work in the first power unit and a thick plume of black smoke was seen from the upper deck.

The area currently ablaze covers 120 square meters (1,292 square feet). Diesel fuel is currently burning, and firefighters are using foam to try to bring it under control.

The press service of the Zvyozdochka ship repair center said the specialists working onboard the vessel have been evacuated, TASS reported.

A source with the emergency services told TASS that firefighters cannot reach the source of fire because of heavy smoke from burning cables.

Admiral Kuznetsov is the Russian navy's largest warship and its sole aircraft carrier capable of carrying horizontal take-off and landing aircraft, according to TASS.

The warship made its first combat deployment in 2016, in the Mediterranean Sea, when its deck-based fighter jets delivered strikes in Syria.

Update: Found a short video: https://youtu.be/xbknSGtzs9c

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Personal note: Fires during dry-dock happen during repairs! Carrier fires can spread quickly. Everything on the carrier can burn - aircraft fuel - oil - galley fires - electrical - & weapons - you name it. That's why "all US Sailors" go to several fire fighting schools before and during their service enlistments. I went to four fire-fighting schools all for different types of ship fires. Better to save the ship then loose it! Sometimes it can be a long swim home! This was not to be funny.

Boats

[Boats]

Two soldiers injured as Russia's only aircraft carrier catches fire
By: WORLD NEWS & Reuters - 12-12-19 UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
RE: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-r...ws%29&&rpc=401

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, caught fire on Thursday during maintenance work in Russia’s Arctic port in Murmansk, and two soldiers were injured, Russian news agencies cited the defense ministry as saying.

The ship was successfully evacuated, the United Shipbuilding Corporation said, with emergency services working to tackle the blaze that began in the ship’s hold.

The Admiral Kuznetsov has seen action in Russia’s military campaign in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad, with its planes carrying out air strikes on rebel forces.

Misfortune has befallen the ship before. The vessel sustained damage during repair work last year when the floating dock holding it sank and a crane crashed onto its deck, leaving a gash up to five meters (16.5 feet) wide.

News agencies reported earlier that Thursday’s fire in Murmansk had injured six people, citing a source.

TASS news agency said the blaze had started on the upper deck and that thick, black smoke was billowing from the vessel.

A source in the emergency services told TASS that firefighters were finding it difficult to reach the blaze because of the heavy smoke caused by burning cables.

The Admiral Kuznetsov gained notoriety in Britain in 2017 when then-Defense Secretary Michael Fallon dubbed it the “ship of shame” as it passed through waters close to the English coast en route back from the Mediterranean belching black smoke.

Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy and Alexander Marrow; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Heinrich