Operations have now commenced in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 300 nautical miles east of Comodoro Rivadavia.
Ocean Infinity is using five Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to carry out the search, which will be conducted by a team of approximately 60 crew members on board Seabed Constructor. In addition, three officers of the Argentine Navy and four family members of the crew of the ARA San Juan have joined Seabed Constructor to observe the search operation.
Ocean Infinity is grateful for the significant support it has received from many parties in determining the area to be searched, in particular the Argentine Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. Ocean Infinity, who have committed to conduct the search operation for up to sixty days, will take on the economic risk of the renewed search, only receiving payment if the submarine is found.
Ocean Infinity’s AUVs are the most technologically advanced in the world. They are capable of operating in water depths from 5 meters to 6,000 meters. The AUVs are not tethered to the vessel during operations, allowing them to go deeper and collect higher quality data for the search. They are equipped with a side scan sonar, a multi-beam echo-sounder, a sub-bottom profiler, an HD camera, a conductivity / temperature / depth sensor, a self-compensating magnetometer, a synthetic aperture sonar and a turbidity sensor.
Oliver Plunkett, Ocean Infinity’s CEO, said:
“For the sake of all involved in this tragedy, we hope that we can help locate the submarine. As ever, there can be no guarantee of success as the exact location is unknown, as are the circumstances around her loss.”
Further announcements will be made in due course.