MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[medhead]

Good. I've found it quite sad and embarrassing, as an Australian, that we've only had one naval vessel able to be deployed (until now).

Why be embarrassed? I loved the report last monday that the Armidale Patrol ships were not designed to patrol and intercept. It is the will of the people to have governments that make these decisions. I also see this week that we've throw billions of dollars at an aircraft that we may never get.

 

[DC3]

"... Australian ship Ocean Shield has been fitted with US black box recovery equipment and is set to head to the search area on Monday ..."

Malaysia Airlines MH370: Former Defence chief Angus Houston to help coordinate search for missing plane - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Offshore Support Vessel Ocean Shield (a logistics ship):

 

[DC3]

I think markis mentioned the US Navy’s Towed Pinger Locator was installed on Ocean Shield last Sunday and vessel has now sailed.

...

Ocean Shield is still in port and sails on Monday, apparently:

 

[DC3]

The Kiwis have spotted something in the new search area-

As it was 2 days ago now, are there any reports on what they found?

 

[markis10]

One P 3 has been taken off the search to head south for a vessel in distress about 600 miles from Antartica.

 

[JessicaTam]

Considering that this is a community forum, I think the recent sort of comments are way out of line. From anyone.

Let us not forget the reason for this thread is the loss of hundreds of lives. Maybe that will help put the various battles of the egos into perspective.

 

[NM]

Considering that this is a community forum, I think the recent sort of comments are way out of line. From anyone.

Let us not forget the reason for this thread is the loss of hundreds of lives. Maybe that will help put the various battles of the egos into perspective.

Yes indeed. I have removed several off-topic posts that are not adding to this thread's topic. Lets stick to discussing the specific topic to MH370 and not get dragged into side discussions tat just clutter the thread where members are seeking on-topic discussion.

 

[DC3]

Ocean Shield is still in port, and hasn't joined the search yet, as at a few minutes ago (Monday 31/3/14 at 5.00pm AEDT).

Is this correct?

 

[drron]

From AMSA-
AMSA News ‏@AMSA_News 40m Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield will conduct sea trials in coughburn Sound this afternoon to test search equipment loaded yesterday.

 

[DC3]

It's not looking good for the Ocean Shield expedition is it? Even if it sails tonight, it will take about 3 days of sailing just to get to the search area. So, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be sailing time.

That probably just leaves a further 3-4 days of searching on-site before the pings stop (about Monday 7th?).

 

[Plutonus]

Well, they haven't even found any trace of the plane so it could be heading to the wrong area anyway.

 

[DC3]

Yes. Very little chance of success at all, unfortunately.

 

[markis10]

The pings will last longer than thirty days, that's the minimum spec for the equipment.

 

[DC3]

The pings will last longer than thirty days, that's the minimum spec for the equipment.

What's the best that can be expected for the pings?

 

[markis10]

What's the best that can be expected for the pings?

An extra week would be the other end of the scale.

 

[DC3]

With the sun setting in Perth, the Ocean Shield is still sitting in port it seems.

Seeing as how it was originally to put to sea about 12 hours ago, and head to the search area, I wonder what the delay is about. And no further update on the afternoon trials which seem not to have started yet?

 

[amaroo]

What's the best that can be expected for the pings?

The USN Captain that came with the pinger - "Captain Matthews said the black box's beacon could operate for a maximum of 45 days."

Read more: MH370 search: Captain Mark Matthews' paints pessimistic assessment of black box search

The whole thing looks pessimistic

 

[Alanslegal]

The whole thing looks pessimistic

Well they found AF black boxes after two years so it all depends on how deep the pockets of MH, the Malaysian Government, Boeing, and their insurers are. All they need right now is to find 'something' so they can really get start focus on a very specific and minute area.

 

[geordieladinoz]

So it seems the final words from MH370 have been changed by the Malaysians overnight from "all right, good night" to "good night Malaysian three seven zero".

A lot more formal than the previously declared sign off which had such a focus on it, believing it to be a sign of someone under duress.

How can the Malaysians keep getting this so wrong? What information has actually been a fact to date I wonder?

I just do not see the torture for these families ending any time soon.

 

[RooFlyer]

So it seems the final words from MH370 have been changed by the Malaysians overnight from "all right, good night" to "good night Malaysian three seven zero".

A lot more formal than the previously declared sign off which had such a focus on it, believing it to be a sign of someone under duress.

How can the Malaysians keep getting this so wrong? What information has actually been a fact to date I wonder?

I just do not see the torture for these families ending any time soon.

If true (and I'm not doubting it), then this surely demolishes any thought that Malaysia has any authority or credibility to lead a formal investigation.