Renewed Search for Flight MH370: What the Operation Entails

Malaysia is resuming the search for flight MH370, with Ocean Infinity leading the effort using advanced technology. The search area is the size of Sydney and will utilize a new offshore vessel equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles and sophisticated sonar systems. The operation is expected to last up to 18 months, focused on locating the aircraft’s wreckage and retrieving its black boxes.

In a significant move, the Malaysian government has initiated a renewed search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished over 11 years ago, resulting in the loss of 239 lives. This initiative follows a proposal from the seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity, which previously conducted an unsuccessful search in 2018. The new endeavor commences with advanced technological tools in the southern Indian Ocean, 1,500 kilometers west of Perth.

The search area designated for MH370 is remarkably expansive, approximately the size of metropolitan Sydney. Experts informed this selection through comprehensive analyses based on various data received post-disappearance, including weather and satellite information and confirmed debris locations found along the African coastline and Indian Ocean islands.

Ocean Infinity plans to employ the newly constructed 78-meter offshore support vessel, the Armada 7806. Built in 2023, this vessel is equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles from Kongsberg, which can operate independently at impressive depths of up to 6,000 meters for 100 hours. These vehicles utilize sophisticated sonar technologies, essential for effective underwater mapping and object detection.

Among the sonar systems employed are sidescan, synthetic aperture, multibeam, and sub-bottom profiling sonar, each offering unique capabilities for underwater exploration. These combined technologies facilitate detailed geological assessments and search and recovery efforts. Confirmation of potential targets may involve camera systems on the vehicles, which will operate closer to the seabed once a target is detected.

Since the last search, Ocean Infinity has enhanced its marine robotics and data analytics, allowing for the simultaneous deployment of multiple vehicles across the seafloor. This advancement will improve the efficiency and thoroughness of the surveys conducted. Data collected will later be stitched together to create comprehensive maps of the search areas.

The operation expects challenging conditions due to harsh weather and difficult underwater terrain. It is projected to last up to 18 months, with the most favorable conditions between January and April. Should Ocean Infinity successfully locate the wreckage, the Malaysian government will reward the company with $70 million, enabling potential recovery of the aircraft’s black boxes to further investigate the incident.

The renewed search for MH370 represents a crucial development in the ongoing quest to uncover the fate of the missing aircraft. Utilizing advanced technologies and a strategic approach based on thorough analyses, Ocean Infinity’s efforts could lead to significant breakthroughs in understanding what transpired on that tragic day. However, the challenges posed by the search conditions and the competitive nature of underwater exploration underscore the complexity of this operation. The stakes are high, both for the search firm and the families still seeking closure after over a decade of uncertainty.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com