The search for MH370 is back on, and this time, it’s not your average deep-sea fishing expedition. Ocean Infinity, a US robotics company, is diving back into the Indian Ocean with a fleet of sophisticated underwater drones. These aren’t your grandpa’s submarines; they’re state-of-the-art machines designed to sink six kilometres down and scan the sea floor for up to one hundred hours at a time. The drones are controlled remotely, and when they spot something interesting, they can capture sonar images to confirm the find. This isn’t just a new search; it’s a technological leap forward, according to maritime experts Craig Wallace and Peter Waring.
Wallace and Waring, speaking with 60 Minutes, described the new tech as a “giant leap in maritime technology,” likening it to the transition from sail to steam in the 1800s. The drones will be deployed in a 15,000km zone, a vast area that’s no stranger to extreme conditions. Wave heights of 20 meters are not uncommon, making the operation challenging and the outcome uncertain. But if anyone can do it, it’s Ocean Infinity. They’ve got the tech, the expertise, and a “no find, no fee” contract with the Malaysian government. If they succeed, they’ll be paid $112m. If they fail, well, they’ll have to swallow the cost of the search.
The stakes are high, and the experts know it. Wallace admitted that the search will be an emotional rollercoaster, with countless potential targets that could turn out to be nothing. But if they find the wreckage, the real work begins. They’ll need to map out the debris field, a process that will take several stages. It’s a daunting task, but one that could finally bring some closure to the families of the 239 people on board MH370.
The disappearance of MH370 has been a haunting mystery since it vanished from radar on March 8, 2014. The plane, a Boeing 777, was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board. Six Australians and a New Zealand citizen living in Australia were among those on board. The plane dropped off the radar 38 minutes after takeoff and vanished, with the final recorded message from the captain being a simple “Good night, Malaysian three seven zero.”
The search for MH370 has been a long and arduous journey, with investigators still unsure about what happened. The plane diverted back over Malaysia, the opposite direction from the intended flight path, and primary civilian and military radar data reported the plane travelling back over the Malacca Strait and into the vast Indian Ocean. After about 7.5 hours, MH370 ran out of fuel and subsequently crashed 11 minutes later into the ocean.
The new search, set to take place over an 18-month timeframe, could shape future developments in the maritime sector. If successful, it could pave the way for more advanced underwater exploration and search and rescue operations. The technology used in this search could also be applied to other industries, such as offshore oil and gas, renewable energy, and even deep-sea mining. The success of this search could also lead to more investment in maritime technology, creating new jobs and opportunities in the sector.
But the search for MH370 is about more than just technology and industry developments. It’s about closure, about finding answers to questions that have haunted families and investigators for nearly a decade. It’s about putting an end to the speculation and conspiracy theories that have surrounded the disappearance of MH370. And it’s about remembering the 239 people who lost their lives on that fateful flight.