A new search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been authorized, utilizing advanced technology to explore the southern Indian Ocean. Seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity will deploy sophisticated equipment and methods to survey a search area the size of Sydney. The operation aims to locate debris and retrieve the plane’s black boxes within challenging conditions over 18 months, potentially rewarding the company significantly if successful.
The renewed search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished in 2014, is set to utilize advanced technology in the southern Indian Ocean. More than a decade after the incident, the Malaysian government has sanctioned this effort, leveraging collaboration with seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity.
Following a previous unsuccessful search in 2018, Ocean Infinity has re-engaged with a refined proposal and returned to a search area 1,500 km west of Perth, which is comparable in size to metropolitan Sydney. This area was selected through detailed analysis of satellite data, weather conditions, and debris locality.
For this search, Ocean Infinity will deploy the newly constructed 78m offshore support vessel, Armada 7806, equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles developed by Kongsberg. These vehicles can operate independently at depths of 6,000m for extended periods, utilizing advanced sonar technology for effective underwater mapping.
The sonar systems, including sidescan, synthetic aperture, multibeam, and sub-bottom profiling sonar, enhance the vehicles’ capabilities for detecting and imaging seafloor structures. These technologies work in tandem to gather comprehensive data, essential for the exploration and recovery process.
The efficiency of the search operation has improved significantly due to advancements in marine robotics since 2018. Ocean Infinity can deploy several vehicles at once, increasing coverage and enhancing overall survey effectiveness.
Conducting operations in the search zone will face challenges, as the surface weather conditions and seafloor complexities pose risks. The entire endeavor is projected to extend over 18 months, with favorable conditions expected from January to April.
A successful discovery of MH370’s wreckage would reward Ocean Infinity with a payment of US$70 million from the Malaysian government. The subsequent effort will focus on retrieving the plane’s black boxes for further investigation, but failure would result in no compensation for the company, effectively resetting the search efforts.
The new search for MH370 marks a significant technological advancement in underwater exploration. Utilizing the Armada 7806 and autonomous vehicles, experts aim to effectively map and assess the designated search area. With a potential financial motive tied to success, the operation promises to delve deeper into the mystery of the missing aircraft, contingent on overcoming challenging operational conditions. The search’s outcome will be pivotal in shedding light on the tragedy that claimed 239 lives.
Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
