Publication Abstract

On 7th April 1989, there was a serious fire aboard a SovietNuclear Submarine which resulted in its sinking to a depth of 1500m in the Norwegian Sea about 120 miles south-west of Bear Island.Initial monitoring by the Norwegian authorities on surfaceseawater samples and samples of oil-contaminated seawatervirtually excluded the possibility of any major radioactiverelease having taken place during the initial phase of theaccident. However, there remained the possibility that there couldbe longer-term releases from the seabed as the reactor contentscame into contact with seawater. This report describes the results of monitoring in the area by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) during a research vessel cruise in October 1989.