The Malaysian government has initiated a new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 using high-tech tools, with Ocean Infinity returning to the southern Indian Ocean. The search area, based on refined analyses, is equivalent to metropolitan Sydney’s size. Utilizing advanced sonar technology on their vessel, the search seeks to locate the wreckage and potentially recover the aircraft’s black boxes. If successful, the operation may provide insights into the disaster.
The Malaysian government has approved a renewed search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared in 2014, using advanced high-tech tools in the southern Indian Ocean. This announcement follows a decade after the tragic event, which resulted in the loss of 239 lives. Ocean Infinity, a seabed exploration firm, has formulated a new proposal that includes sophisticated equipment and strategies for locating the lost aircraft’s debris.
The search area, spanning the size of metropolitan Sydney, was identified through collaboration with experts who analyzed various data received post-disappearance, including weather conditions and satellite data. Ocean Infinity has returned to the southern Indian Ocean, approximately 1,500 kilometers west of Perth, to implement this search.
Ocean Infinity will utilize the new support vessel, Armada 7806, which was constructed by Vard in 2023. This vessel will be outfitted with a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles from Kongsberg, capable of operating independently at depths of up to 6,000 meters for extended periods. These vehicles employ advanced sonar technologies, including sidescan and multibeam sonar, for detailed underwater mapping and object detection.
The sonar technology plays a crucial role in mapping the seafloor and detecting specific objects. Sidescan sonar captures images of the seafloor using acoustic pulses, while multibeam sonar aids in mapping topography through a fan-shaped sonar beam pattern. These technologies will provide essential data for underwater exploration and enhance search and recovery efforts.
Since their last search in 2018, Ocean Infinity has improved its marine robotics and data analytics capabilities, allowing for the simultaneous deployment of multiple vehicles. This enhanced capacity will improve the efficiency of the survey process as each vehicle can cover a segment of the seafloor simultaneously.
The conditions in the search region pose significant challenges, both on the surface and underwater, with potential adverse weather impacting operations. The expected operation period is up to 18 months, with January to April presenting the most favorable conditions for search activities.
Should Ocean Infinity succeed in locating the wreckage of MH370, Malaysia will compensate the company with US$70 million. The subsequent step would be the retrieval of the aircraft’s black boxes, which hold critical information regarding the plane’s final moments. If the search does not yield results, Ocean Infinity will not receive payment, and the investigation will revert to its initial state.
In summary, the renewed search for MH370 aims to utilize advanced technology and robotics to locate the missing aircraft in a defined area of the southern Indian Ocean. With a significant focus on sonar capabilities and the deployment of multiple underwater vehicles, Ocean Infinity is prepared to navigate challenging conditions over an anticipated duration of 18 months. The outcome of this search holds potential implications for understanding the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s disappearance.
Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
