In completing its task, the Nuclear Coordinating Group adopted the following principles to ensure that the preparatory and recovery operations would not present an unacceptable nuclear or radiation risk to those involved with the recovery and, generally, to the marine environment (NCG 2001):
• Limits and Conditions: A clear set of limits and conditions had to be established for all of the operations to ensure that credible hazards would not challenge the capability of the structures, systems and components involved, both on the Kursk and or the Giant 4.
• Degradation and Recovery Operations: The limits and conditions safeguarding the structures, systems and its components would have to account for damage sustained during the sinking, the degradation over the year on the sea bed, and for forces and circumstances introduced by the Mammoet-Smit recovery operations.
• Defense in Depth: There should be a number of separate safeguards in place at all times against all of the significant hazards.
• Tried & Tested Technology: Since the deployment of novel procedures and processes introduces additional risk, preferably tried and tested technology should applied.
• ALARP: the risk should be reduced to As Low As is Reasonably Practical.
• Radiological Management Regime: Radiation doses to those personnel involved in the recovery operation should be controlled below the limits for Class B radiation workers (as defined for the UK).
• In Contingency: Contingency plans should exist in the unlikely event of a significant radiological release, particularly for mitigating the impact upon the marine environment.
Mammoet-Smit had contracted to raise the Kursk in May 2001 and in just six short months, on 23 October, the Kursk was lowered from Giant 4 onto the cradles of the floating dry dock at Rosljakovo — a quite remarkable and World-first achievement.