PROVIDENCE -- The Juliett 484, a Russian submarine that was a Providence tourist attraction until it sank in a storm in 2007, is being dismantled for scrap.
The submarine, which was featured in the movie "K19: The Widowmaker", sunk and was damaged beyond repair when water seeped through a hatch.
"The sub itself weights about 3,300 tons … 35 to 40 tons of brass, probably the same in copper, half of that in stainless, half of that in titanium," said Eddie Sciaba of Rhode Island Recycled Metals.
Crews first removed the largest pieces from outside the sub, which included a satellite dish. They're now working on the inside.
"We're starting with the motors, generators, that sort of thing, keep lightening up the submarine so it keeps coming up higher and higher into the water so eventually we can pull it in and get rid of it totally," Sciaba said.
What were used as tubes to launch a nuclear warhead, are now being taken apart.
"It's just amazing, the technology they had way back then, all the pieces and how they put it together -- just how people came up with the thought of doing stuff like that," said Jason Champagne of Rhode Island Recycled Metals.
"You're getting stainless steel that was used for basically a heat shield in there, different metals, a lot of electronic components were probably used for the sequencing, the firing mechanism inside the missile tube," Sciaba said.
The pieces of the submarine will be used for new cars and appliances.
"I never thought I'd get a chance to do it. It's incredible it really is. It's a pretty cool project, you know?" Sciaba said.
It's unclear how much money will be made from selling the scrap metal.
The project should be completed by the end of the summer.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement