Russian sub vessels to Cap Oil Spill
A Russian captain claims his two sub vessels could help cap the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico but no one seems to be on-board with the idea.
“Our subs are unique,” Yevgenii Chernyaev told a BBC science correspondent. “There are two of them, and they can submerge and work simultaneously. Also, they are powerful enough to work with any other additional equipment.”
Both subs, he said, can dive to 19,685 feet, or 3.7 miles. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig is about 5,000 feet below the surface.
The skipper said that he and his team have discussed the gulf problem many times and that the Russians were ready to pitch in.
But he said such an operation would work only if BP or the Obama administration invited the Russians to try to stop the leak. “It should all be decided on the government level,” he said.
Chernyaev conceded that the Russians would need to work with other international specialists to make an impact. “We would not refuse to help, even though for us it would be very complicated.”
He added, “But it doesn’t look like anyone seriously wants our help.”
According to AOL, U.S. Coast Guard have not answered the Russians or been available for comment. The way I see it, I don’t think the U.S. would particularly favor help from the Russians.
The BP oil spill is a national problem and any foreign help especially to the United States would make BP and President Barack Obama’s handling of the situation look incompetent and incapable (If it wasn’t already). So Maybe, BP feels it has to redeem its image and social responsibility by fixing the catastrophe at the Gulf of Mexico.
In fairness, BP has managed to control the leak 5,000 ft below the Gulf of Mexico’s surface. Their underwater robots sheared off part of the riser pipe and placed a containment cap over the leak, diverting up to 15,ooo bbl. of oil a day according to Time magazine’s June 21, 2010 issue.
President Obama is also trying to answer his critics, showing that he is dealing with the crisis by talking to experts so he knows “whose ass to kick.”
Well BP and Obama are taking actions but should consider all options in cleaning up the mess. If Russia wants to assist with the problem with their submarines, why not give it a shot?