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Brazil`s largest submarine sinks at dock
The Brazilian Navy has launched an investigation into what caused its largest submarine to sink at its moorings.
The Brazilian Navy has launched an investigation into what caused its largest submarine to
sink at its moorings.
None of the crew was injured when the Submarine Tonelero sank in shallow water on Monday at the naval base in Rio De Janeiro, where it was under repair, naval officials said.
"A failure in the hydraulic system which controls the submarine's valves caused the vessel to take on water at a uncontrollable rate," Naval Commander Joao Carlos Rezende said. Nine of the submarine's 70 crew members were aboard, and all escaped safely.
"It will take at least a week to refloat the 2,410-tonne submarine, which is filled with water," said commander Luiz Fernando Palmerda Fonseca, chief naval spokesman.
"Four torpedoes were aboard when the submarine sank, but there was no risk of explosion," he said.
The Tonelero, built in Britain in 1971, is the oldest and largest submarine in brazil's navy. Brazil purchased the submarine from Britain in 1977.
"A failure in the hydraulic system which controls the submarine's valves caused the vessel to take on water at a uncontrollable rate," Naval Commander Joao Carlos Rezende said. Nine of the submarine's 70 crew members were aboard, and all escaped safely.
"It will take at least a week to refloat the 2,410-tonne submarine, which is filled with water," said commander Luiz Fernando Palmerda Fonseca, chief naval spokesman.
"Four torpedoes were aboard when the submarine sank, but there was no risk of explosion," he said.
The Tonelero, built in Britain in 1971, is the oldest and largest submarine in brazil's navy. Brazil purchased the submarine from Britain in 1977.
Bureau Report