MH370: Private companies to help in search

With no new updates on missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 even as the search enters its seventh week, authorities are looking to consider other approaches including roping in private companies with deep water expertise.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said local companies such as DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies (DEFTECH) and Boustead that have capabilities for deep water salvage & recovery work will be deployed to support the search operations.

“They will discuss with their international collaborators like SAAB, DCNS and others to identify relevant assets and instruments required,” he said at a press briefing today.

Currently, the Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is used in the underwater search at areas where the four ‘ping’ signals were detected.

The Bluefin-21 has completed six trips to the bottom of the Indian Ocean, scanning an area approximately 133 square kilometres since it was dispatched on Monday.

“Bluefin -21 has captured clear & sharp images of the seabed while conducting search mission in underwater search area but no contacts of interest have been found.”

The seventh trip commenced this morning and is expected to complete search at identified areas within next week.

If there are no new updates by then, Hishammuddin said the SAR team will regroup and reconsider its operations including re-looking at data from satellites and Inmarsat.

“The rescue operation requires cooperation of commercial entities, especially oil companies involved in deep sea rigs. What we have been doing the past few days is to get Malaysian companies who have partners internationally.”

“This is so that when the SAR moves on to the next phase, the assets are available,” he said.