The final phase of scrapping of the Kursk nuclear submarine began at the Nerpa plant on November 13. At this phase the plant's specialists will unload nuclear fuel from the submarine's reactors using the Imandra special vehicle. Alexander Gorbunov, deputy director of the plant, said: "This is a very difficult operation because unloading of nuclear fuel will be carried out in a dock for the first time in the world's experience." The plant had to cut scaffolding and vent tubes in the dock in order to put the Imandra near the Kursk submarine. Specialists say that preparations for unloading the nuclear fuel will take a week. The operation itself will last until the end of December.