Søket etter MH370 - Litt mer om det norske fartøyet - Curt Lewis/Teknisk Ukeblad

U.S. Firm Awaits Contract To Restart MH370 Search

A U.S.-based marine survey firm expects a contract award from the Malaysian government within days to resume searching for the Boeing 777-200 that disappeared almost four years ago while operating as Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

In an emailed statement, Houston-based Ocean Infinity confirmed is plans to resume the search for the missing aircraft from the Seabed Constructor, an offshore construction vessel.

"With a relatively narrow weather window, we are moving the vessel toward the vicinity of the possible search zone," the company said. "This is designed to save time should the contract award be forthcoming, as hoped. We will confirm as and when the contract is awarded and the search can resume."

MH370, which carried 239 passengers and crew, disappeared from radar March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Australia accepted responsibility for leading the search at the request of the Malaysian government, concentrating the effort in the southern Indian Ocean. The search continued until Jan. 17, 2017, when the governments of Malaysia, Australia and China jointly agreed to suspend operations.

Ocean Infinity maintains a fleet of Kongsberg Maritime Hugin autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of operating to depths of 6,000 m (19,700 ft). The AUVs, fitted with side-scan sonar, multi-beam echo-sounder and various other sensors, are accompanied by unmanned surface vehicles to ensure precise positioning and constant communication, the company says.

The Seabed Constructor, chartered from Norwegian firm Swire Seabed, left Durban, South Africa, on Jan. 2, en route to Perth, Australia, where it was expected to arrive Feb. 7, according Marine Traffic, an online database.

Ocean Infinity har installert Kraken-sonarteknologi inne i skroget på de åtte Hugin-undervannsdronene fra norske Kongsberg Maritime. (Foto: Skjermdump fra YouTube-video fra Ocean Infinity)

SEABED CONSTRUCTOR - MH370 MALAYSIA AIRLINES

Åtte høytteknologiske undervannsdroner skal finne MH370

Åtte autonome undervannsdroner har fått en stor teknologisk sonar-oppgradering, slik at de kan kartlegge havbunnen helt ned til noen få centimeters oppløsning.