Over 2,600 Square Miles Have Been Explored So Far

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says that it has searched more than 2,600 square miles of ocean floor as it continues to lead the effort to locate Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) which it is suspected went down in the area off the western coast of Australia in March of this year.

In an operational update, the ATSB said that Fugro Equator’s mobilization to conduct underwater search activities has been postponed due to delays in the supply of the new deep tow winch and cable. While the equipment is being freighted to Australia from the USA, the ATSB has taken the opportunity to conduct further bathymetric survey work. Fugro Equator departed Fremantle on 16 November for the search area. The vessel is expected to arrive in the search area on November 20 and will undertake bathymetric survey work to broaden the survey coverage in the current underwater search area.

In addition to locating the aircraft, the underwater search aims to map the MH370 debris field in order to identify and prioritize the recovery of specific aircraft components, including flight recorders, which will assist with the Malaysian investigation. The ATSB has utilized the data from the bathymetric survey work to prepare the initial plan for the underwater search, to be followed and referred to by all parties involved. The plan includes search timings, methods, procedures, safety precautions and the initial search areas for the various vessels.

The Bureau said that the weather conditions in the search area are expected to improve as the summer progresses in the southern hemisphere.

FMI: www.atsb.gov.au/mh370.aspx