Divers prepare to cut Kursk bow

First anniversary of the Kursk's sinking is on August 12

MOSCOW, Russia -- Divers began the operation to drop anchors to the bottom of the Barents Sea as part of the next stage in preparing to lift the sunken Kursk submarine.

The team of Norwegian divers will begin installing anchors on Wednesday to hold the cutting chain that will be used to saw off the submarine's bow, Navy spokesman Captain Igor Dygalo said.

The bow was badly damaged when the Kursk sank almost a year ago, on August 12, and there are fears that it may disintegrate during any attempt to raise it.

It will remain on the seabed when the rest of the sub is raised because of concerns that the bow may also contain unexploded torpedoes.

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Divers continued cutting holes in the Kursk's double hull on Tuesday, to which steel cables will be attached to raise the submarine.

Dygalo said seven of the 26 holes had been cut.

The process has been hampered by divers having to clear the space between the inner and outer hulls by hand rather than using remote-controlled robots as initially planned as the area is full of pipes, air pressure cannisters and other equipment.

The cables will be connected to hydraulic lifting devices anchored to a giant barge, which will take the wreck to the Arctic port of Murmansk.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday for the relatives of the 118 crew which perished during the accident.