"The Russian Navy's Northern Fleet is preparing to raise the remains of the forward section of the Project 949A Antyey-class (NATO name; Oscar II) nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Kursk from the floor of the Barents Sea. While the wreck of the Kursk was successfully raised in September 2001, wreckage from the bow section was cut off before the submarine's salvage. Following a comprehensive examination of each compartment and the recovery of all human remains, the hulk of the Kursk was last month taken to the Nerpa yard for scrapping. Investigators have maintained that the remains of the forward compartment could contain conclusive evidence of what caused the massive explosion that sank the submarine. While Russian officials initially speculated that the Kursk's loss in August 2000 was the result of an underwater collision, it is now generally accepted that a weapon malfunction was responsible for triggering the huge explosion that took the submarine to the bottom."