Stolt Offshore officials greeted the announcement with incredulity.

They told the BBC that, although they were still in negotiations with the Russian Navy, they were not expecting their divers to work in the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea before next summer.

That, according to the Russians, is when they plan to try to raise the submarine itself.

Mr Klebanov may have spoken too early because of the pressure that is on the Russian Government to be seen to be doing something positive about the Kursk recovery operation.

Criticism

The Russian authorities were heavily criticised for the confused, confusing and often erroneous reports which they put out about the reasons for the loss of the Kursk.

And the relatives of the dead sailors were especially bitter about the way in which the Russian Navy held out hopes for finding the submariners alive, when it was already clear that most, if not all, of the crew were bound to be dead.

Relatives want bodies to bury

Mr Klebanov's announcement may once again mistakenly raise the hopes of the relatives, not only that they may soon be able to bury their loved ones, but also that the bodies may be in any fit state for burial.

The explosions on board the Kursk, and the prolonged exposure to sea water, may make any recovery and burial, a very grim task indeed.