Renewed Search for MH370: Advanced Technologies and Challenges Ahead

The Malaysian government has resumed the search for MH370 with Ocean Infinity, employing advanced technology to locate the aircraft’s wreckage in a designated area the size of Sydney. Utilizing the state-of-the-art Armada 7806 and autonomous underwater vehicles, the operation aims to recover crucial evidence, with challenging conditions anticipated over an 18-month timeline.

The Malaysian government has initiated a renewed search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, over a decade after the aircraft disappeared, resulting in the loss of 239 lives. This decision follows the collaboration with seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity, which previously attempted a search in 2018 but did not succeed. A new proposal was accepted in principle in December, leading to the deployment of advanced technology to locate the missing debris in the southern Indian Ocean.

The renewed search area spans approximately the size of metropolitan Sydney and has been determined through advanced analyses of satellite data, weather patterns, and recovered debris. Ocean Infinity’s capabilities in locating underwater wreckage have previously been demonstrated, including successful recoveries of other submerged vessels. The search will utilize the Armada 7806, a new offshore support vessel optimized for these operations.

Equipped with autonomous underwater vehicles from Norwegian firm Kongsberg, the Armada 7806 can dive up to 6,000 meters for extended missions. The vehicles employ cutting-edge sonar systems for effective mapping and object detection, providing detailed acoustic imagery of the seafloor. This includes sidescan sonar for high-resolution imaging, synthetic aperture sonar for enhanced detail, and sub-bottom profiling to explore geological layers beneath the seabed.

Ocean Infinity has integrated advanced robotics into its search operations since 2018, allowing for simultaneous deployment of multiple underwater vehicles, thereby significantly increasing the coverage area. The collected data will be synthesized into comprehensive maps to support the search efforts. However, operations will face challenging surface and underwater conditions over the course of an expected 18-month timeline, particularly favoring operations during January to April.

Successful identification of wreckage will yield significant financial rewards from the Malaysian government, with a $70 million incentive upon successful recovery of the aircraft. Following identification, efforts will focus on retrieving the black boxes for further investigation. However, failure to locate the wreckage would leave the search as it began, without any remuneration for Ocean Infinity.

The renewed search for MH370 reflects a concerted effort by the Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity to leverage advanced technologies for a complex underwater operation. Utilizing sophisticated vessels and autonomous systems, the endeavor aims not only to find the wreckage but also to recover crucial evidence for understanding the tragedy. The undertaking underscores both the ongoing challenges in maritime search operations and the hope for closure for families affected by this historic aviation disaster.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com