Russian Navy – Norwegian divers have been unsuccessful in unscrewing Kursk’s rescue hatch. There is a crack in the hatch and the British rescue submarine may be unable to dock with it. The Russians now believe the crew is dead.

• BBC News: Divers struggle with Kursk hatch
• CNN: Nuclear sub video reveals ‘massive damage’
• Daily Telegraph (registration required): British rescue team told: submarine crew are dead
• Daily Telegraph (registration required): War games

Piracy – An account of a pirate attack on a merchant ship in specific, and an overview of piracy in general.

• New York Times Magazine: Bandits in the global shipping lanes