The Russian Sub Museum, based on a decommissioned ex-Soviet missile submarine named Juliett 484 docked at Collier Point Park on the Providence River, sank last week after turning on its side due to a nor'easter that hit Rhode Island.
The 300-foot-long sub, which was featured in the 2002 film "K-19: The Widowmaker," has been a landmark since it opened as a museum in August 2002. Originally designed to carry nuclear-armed missiles, it was decommissioned by the Russian Navy in 1994, according to an April 21 article in the Providence Journal.
The vessel is currently submerged under 28 feet of water, but the museum's liability insurance will be able to pay for the salvage operation, the Journal reported. Divers must first assess the sub's stability, then water can be pumped out of the vessel and it can be pulled to the surface. The museum is closed until further notice.
- Sara Molinaro
