Renewed Search for MH370: Advanced Technology and Strategies

The Malaysian government has approved a new search for flight MH370, using advanced technologies from Ocean Infinity. This operation covers a search area the size of Sydney, employing sophisticated underwater vehicles and sonar systems. The search aims to locate the aircraft wreckage, which would allow investigators to recover vital data from the black boxes, within a timeframe of up to 18 months.

The renewed search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished in 2014, has received approval from the Malaysian government, as confirmed by underwater robotics expert Stefan Williams. The new operation, announced last year, is being conducted by Ocean Infinity, a seabed exploration firm known for previous successful missions. The firm is deploying cutting-edge technology and is focusing on a search area that is approximately the size of Sydney, based on newly refined analyses of data collected since the aircraft’s disappearance.

The search area identified for MH370 lies 1,500 kilometers west of Perth, utilizing data from multiple sources, including weather patterns and satellite data. Ocean Infinity has a history of locating underwater wreckage, including a missing submarine and a World War II Navy ship. The firm is returning with a 78-meter offshore support vessel, the Armada 7806, which was built in 2023 by Norwegian company Vard.

Equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles from Kongsberg, the Armada 7806 can operate at depths up to 6,000 meters for extended periods. These vehicles utilize advanced sonar technologies such as sidescan, synthetic aperture, multibeam, and sub-bottom profiling sonar, essential for mapping underwater terrain and successfully detecting objects. The combined capabilities of these sonar systems facilitate a comprehensive exploration of the search zone.

To confirm detected targets, camera systems and lighting on the underwater vehicles will enhance imaging. The mission protocols dictate that once a target is identified, the vehicles can approach closer to the seafloor to gather detailed images. However, this targeted search will require significantly denser survey patterns compared to initial sonar scans.

Since the last search in 2018, Ocean Infinity has upgraded its marine robotics, allowing for simultaneous deployment of multiple vehicles, maximizing search efficiency. Data collected will be synthesized to create detailed seabed maps, although adverse weather and challenging underwater conditions could present difficulties in the operational phase, which may span up to 18 months.

The contract stipulates that if the wreckage is found, the Malaysian government will compensate Ocean Infinity with $70 million. Subsequent efforts would focus on retrieving the black boxes to aid in the investigation surrounding the plane’s tragic end. Should the search fail, no payment will be issued to Ocean Infinity, and the investigation into the aircraft’s location would begin anew.

The ongoing search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 involves advanced technology and methods, led by Ocean Infinity in collaboration with the Malaysian government. Significant innovative developments in marine robotics and sonar technology are pivotal to the operation, which aims to cover a vast area using efficient mapping techniques. Success in locating the wreckage would facilitate the retrieval of critical data pertaining to the flight’s final moments, while failure would reset the investigation process entirely.

Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com