Russia approves underwater survey of sunken dock obstructing Admiral Kuznetsov carrier repairs.

On January 25, 2026, Russian regulators authorized funding for a detailed underwater inspection needed to assess recovery or dismantling options of the PD-50 floating dock that sank in 2018 in Kola Bay, which remains a prerequisite for resolving long-standing repair constraints affecting Admiral Kuznetsov.

According to WWW1.Ru on January 25, 2026, Russian authorities approved a 240 million ruble contract for a detailed underwater inspection of the PD-50 floating dock that sank in 2018 in Kola Bay. The survey will generate precise structural and seabed data needed to assess any future decision on dismantling or lifting the dock, which remains a prerequisite for resolving long-standing repair constraints affecting Russia’s sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov.
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The Admiral Kuznetsov is currently in Murmansk, moored at the facilities of the 35th Ship Repair Plant, which is part of the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center, and has remained there following prolonged repair and modernization work that began in 2017. (Picture source: X/The Dead District)

According to the Russian media, Russian authorities allowed a 240 million ruble contract for an underwater survey of the sunken PD-50 floating dock in the Murmansk region, without which the prolonged repair process of the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov would be impossible. The contract assigns JSC Lenmorniproekt as the customer, with the contractor not identified at that stage. The task focuses on obtaining precise physical data on the dock through diver inspections, instrumental measurements, and seabed mapping. A central output is the creation of a three-dimensional digital model with a resolution of up to two centimeters. The work scope also includes examination of underwater objects along a potential transport route to a dismantling site. This initiative addresses the technical characterization of the wreck rather than recovery. The decision highlights continued state funding for discrete infrastructure-related tasks connected to the carrier’s future.

The survey program specifies a complete diving and instrumental inspection of the PD-50 hull, including ballast compartments and anchor and mooring connections totaling nearly four kilometers in length. All structural elements are to be recorded through photo and video capture with coordinate referencing for spatial accuracy. Engineers will measure hull and slipway deck metal thickness and assess corrosion levels across structural sections. Seabed analysis will use a multibeam echo sounder, sonar, and lidar to map terrain and detect objects. The angles of list and trim will be calculated, along with the depth of seabed penetration. The resulting digital model is intended to represent structural condition and seabed interaction within a radius of 150 meters from the hull. A separate phase covers underwater obstacles along a potential transport corridor.

This January 25, 2026, contract follows an earlier development dated January 15, 2026, when it was disclosed that the lifting of the PD-50 dock from the seabed of the Kola Bay in the Barents Sea was assessed at about 840 million rubles. At that stage, JSC Lenmorniproekt initiated the search for contractors by placing 18 separate procurement notices linked to preparatory and survey work. The planned lifting operation was framed as dependent on a broad set of preliminary investigations. These included geodetic, geological, environmental, and archaeological studies, alongside underwater inspection of the dock’s hull. Specific tasks also covered the search for potentially explosive objects on or around the wreck. Additional procurements were linked to the preparation of a fisheries characterization of the area and the assessment of impacts on aquatic biological resources. For hydrobiological studies, the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences was selected as a contractor.

The PD-50 floating dock sank on October 30, 2018, during the departure of Admiral Kuznetsov following repair work. A power outage was cited as the initial cause, after which a dockside crane collapsed, damaging the carrier’s hull and flight deck. Although the ship remained afloat, the loss of the dock removed a key heavy-lift repair asset in the Murmansk area. The incident forced a reconfiguration of repair plans and reliance on alternative facilities. Subsequent estimates placed the cost of raising the dock at about 840 million rubles. Since the accident, the dock has remained on the seabed, and its status has continued to affect industrial planning related to large naval vessels, as it was also used for submarines.

Based on information available, the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov is currently in Murmansk, moored at the facilities of the 35th Ship Repair Plant, which is part of the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center. The ship has remained there following prolonged repair and modernization work that began in 20177, with the stated aim of extending its service life by ten years. Since then, the process was repeatedly delayed by industrial setbacks, including the loss of the PD-50 floating dock and subsequent incidents. Repair and modernization activities were paused in 2025 as costs increased, pending a final decision on whether repairs will resume, the ship will be sold, or it will be scrapped. On July 25, 2025, United Shipbuilding Corporation board chair Andrey Kostin publicly stated that continued repair no longer made sense, citing the ship’s age and expense, and suggested sale or scrapping, contrasting with earlier statements asserting progress within planned limits. The coexistence of such positions illustrates an unresolved policy stance, as continued funding around the PD-50 might indicate that not all efforts have been halted.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is a Project 1143.5 heavy aircraft carrier constructed at the Black Sea Shipyard in Mykolaiv. The hull was ordered on March 3, 1981, laid down on September 1, 1982, launched on December 4, 1985, and commissioned on January 20, 1991. The ship entered service during the final phase of the Soviet Navy and later joined the Russian Northern Fleet. Its design incorporated a ski-jump flight deck enabling fixed-wing aircraft operations without catapults. The ship carried both aviation facilities and heavy missile armament. Its only combat deployment occurred off Syria in 2016–2017, after which it returned for major repair. Since then, it has not resumed operational service.

The ship’s displacement figures are 46,540 tonnes standard, 53,050 tonnes normal, and 59,100 tonnes full, with a maximum value of 61,390 tonnes also referenced. Length measures 270 meters at the waterline and 306.45 meters overall, while the beam reaches 33.41 meters at the waterline and 71.96 meters overall. Draft ranges from 8.05 meters at standard displacement to 10.4 meters at maximum. Propulsion uses a four-shaft boiler-turbine arrangement with four GTZA TV-12-4 units and eight KVG-4 boilers. Electrical generation includes nine 1,500 kW turbogenerators and six 1,500 kW diesel generators. Maximum speed is listed as 29 knots, with economical speeds of 18 and 14 knots. Endurance is cited at 45 days, with a range up to 8,417 nautical miles at economical speed.

The hull uses low-magnetic steel and a duplicated internal layout with dry compartments. Anti-torpedo protection is described as a three-layer system 4.5 meters wide, designed to withstand a 400-kilogram TNT-equivalent charge. Close-in defenses include six AK-630 mounts with a combined ammunition load of 48,000 rounds. Missile-and-gun systems of the Kortik type provide 256 missiles and 48,000 rounds, while medium-range air defense relies on Kinzhal launchers with 192 missiles. Anti-submarine armament includes two RBU-12000 launchers with 60 rockets. The ship originally carried 12 P-700 Granit heavy anti-ship missiles beneath the flight deck, but modernization plans envisioned removing these launchers to free internal volume and weight.

The Admiral Kuznetsov is able to base and service 28 aircraft and 24 helicopters, with total embarked numbers cited between 30 and 36 depending on configuration. Planned air groups included MiG-29K or Su-27K fighters alongside Ka-27 helicopters, while operational configurations later combined Su-33 and MiG-29K variants with training and utility aircraft. The ship’s sensor suite includes radars such as Mars-Passat, MR-750 Fregat-MA, MR-360 Podkat, and Vaigach, integrated with aviation control, combat management, sonar, and electronic warfare systems. Modernization concepts included renewal of the flight deck, propulsion-related equipment, and replacement of close-in defenses with Pantsir-M.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.