MH370 Deep-water Search Contract Awarded
Fugro Survey Pty Ltd will use two vessels to conduct the search of the sea floor, utilizing side scan sonar, multi-beam echo sounders, and video cameras as they search for aircraft debris.
Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre announced Aug. 6 that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has awarded Fugro Survey Pty Ltd the contract for the deep-water search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in the southern Indian Ocean. For up to 12 months, unless the aircraft is located sooner, Fugro will deploy two ships, the Fugro Equator and Fugro Discovery, fitted with deep tow survey systems to scan the sear floor in the designated search area. Fugro Equator has been involved in the bathymetric survey of the search area.
Beginning in September 2014, the ships will use side scan sonar, multi-beam echo sounders, and video cameras as they search for aircraft debris.
The Australian government has allocated has $60 million in Australian dollars to the ATSB to carry out the search.