Case Study: IgH achieves safe, on-time salvage of the Kursk submarine with MathWorks' MATLAB and Simulink

International Salvage Team Brings Home the Kursk Submarine Using a Simulation Developed in Simulink

IgH was tasked with developing a safe way to raise the 10,000‑ton nuclear submarine Kursk in heavy seas, a job complicated by deep, clay‑suction embedding, 26 hoists on the Giant 4 barge, risky onboard reactors/weapons, a strict tilt limit, and a four‑month deadline. IgH used MathWorks products—Simulink and MATLAB—and Model‑Based Design to create a complete simulation-driven approach.

Using MathWorks' Simulink and MATLAB, IgH built a full system model (6‑DOF hydrodynamics, thermodynamic gas‑spring models, mechanical compensators, PLCs and sensor interfaces), developed control software to optimize gas pressures and load distribution, and trained operators on the simulator and PLCs. The MathWorks‑based solution allowed full testing, fast economical operator training, close agreement with independent trials, and enabled the team to complete the operation within four months and successfully raise and tow the Kursk.

IgH

Wilhelm Hagemeister

Managing Director