After resting 330ft beneath the surface of the Barents sea for 14 months, the Russian nuclear submarine, Kursk was finally raised at the end of an exhaustive salvage effort. It was more than a year ago when the huge Russian sub left the port of Roslyakovo near Murmansk. All 118 crew died on that fateful voyage after two explosions in the bow of the vessel tore open the hull, pinning the disabled sub to the seabed.

The salvage effort has cost the Kremlin £90 million, nearly £40 million more than originally estimated. The Dutch-owned Giant-4 barge lifted the nuclear sub and its cargo of cruise missiles and torpedoes to the surface in a delicate operation using 26 cranes. The sub was then secured to the bottom of the barge before beginning the slow trip back to Roslyakovo.

Relatives have been waiting at the port for the past three weeks after work was delayed due to bad weather and technical problems. Once the barge reaches port, the Kursk will be put into dry dock where the grim task of entering the sub to investigate the causes of the sinking will take place.