MH370: GO Phoenix recommences search for missing jet
Astro Awani
March 25, 2015 14:44 MYT
March 25, 2015 14:44 MYT
A file photo of the GO Phoenix. The vessel is armed with a sophisticated towed sonar array capable of generating high-resolution images of the rough Indian Ocean sea bed.
GO Phoenix, one of four official vessels in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, has recommenced its operations in the search area on March 19.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in the latest update on its website said sea conditions over the weekend had forced the vessel to cease search operations for two hours.
However, GO Phoenix has since continued operations without interruption.
MH370 underwater search area planning map - Source: ATSB
As for the other Dutch-owned vessels involved in the search, Fugro Discovery is expected to depart the search area in the southern Indian Ocean today to travel to Fremantle in Perth, Australia for a rescheduled resupply visit.
The vessel is expected to arrive in port around 1 April.
Fugro Equator is expected to arrive in Fremantle for its scheduled resupply visit on April 8 after departing the search area on April 2.
The Fugro Supporter will be travelling to Fremantle port around April 3 for its scheduled resupply visit and is expected to arrive in port around April 9.
It was previously reported that the current underwater search for the Boeing 777 jet might be largely completed around May this year.
The Australian authorities were reportedly hoping to wrap up this phase of the search by then, as the weather would be even more severe with the onset of winter.
Flight MH370 vanished off radar on March 8, 2014 after some 40 minutes into a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, China. The aircraft was carrying 239 passengers and crew on board.