Russia on Wednesday sent a manned mission to save 116 sailors before they suffocated in a crippled nuclear submarine after rough seas kept two remote-controlled capsules from docking with the sunken craft.
The head of Russia's navy said the Kursk -- out of contact since suffering a catastrophic accident and sinking to the bottom of the Barents Sea on Saturday -- would probably run out of oxygen by Friday.
But a series of desperate attempts by two small craft to reach the ill-fated submarine was scuttled by ferocious storms and atrocious visibility in the icy sea.
Navy officials told ITAR-TASS that a third rescue vessel manned by rescuers who would later enter the Kursk and help save the stranded sailors set off for the sunken craft at 8:00 a.m. (0400 GMT).
"The underwater craft that we used overnight has exhausted its resources," the navy press spokesman said.
However the mini-submarine would need to make several trips to save the entire crew -- assuming they survived their ordeal -- and navy officials sounded gloomy about their prospects.
"I am being a realist, because we have absolutely no idea what is going on inside" the submarine, navy commander Vladimir Kuroyedov told RTR television.
"The only clear thing is that some people are alive, and that they are sending an emergency SOS message" by banging against the side of the hull, Kuroyedov said.
"That is clear. Everything else is our hope, which is diminishing every day because our estimates show that there will be no oxygen left on the boat by (Friday) the 18th."
Still, Russia steadfastly refused to accept outside assistance in the rescue mission, saying it could cope alone.
The United States again said it was ready to help while officials in Brussels confirmed that a team of Russian officers was in contact with NATO naval experts - MOSCOW (AFP)
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