Fugro Equator is used to survey the search area
Australia continues to lead the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
All the available data indicates the aircraft entered the sea close to a long but narrow arc of the southern Indian Ocean.
Ship movements
After resupply in Fremantle, Fugro Equator commenced passage back to the search area on 19 September and arrived on 24 September to recommence survey work in the search area in preparation for the underwater search.
On 20 September, the Chinese survey vessel Zhu Kezhen completed her MH370 search mission and commenced return passage to China.
The Chinese support vessel Haixun 01 continued to be stationed at the Port of Fremantle for repairs.
Underwater search
Vessels involved in the search are being jointly funded by Malaysia and Australia. Fugro Discovery and Fugro Equator (which is currently being used to survey the search area) are Fugro Survey Pty Ltd vessels, and the GO Phoenix has equipment and experts provided by Phoenix International (Phoenix).
Ship movements
Mobilisation of search assets is already under way. GO Phoenix received fit-out work in Jakarta in preparation for the sea and weather conditions it is likely to encounter in the search area. GO Phoenix departed Jakarta on 23 September for the calibration area and is expected to arrive at the allocated underwater search area on 1 October. GO Phoenix will search there for around 20 days before sailing to Fremantle to be resupplied.
Fugro Discovery has completed fit-out work in Durban, South Africa and commenced passage to Australia. The vessel is expected to arrive in Fremantle on 2 October, whereupon search equipment and a mission crew are expected to be mobilised.
Fugro Equator, the vessel currently being used to survey the search area, is expected to be mobilised as a search vessel when its bathymetric work is complete around the end of October.
Source and Image Credit: ATSB
