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Angus Houston News

23 Sep 2015

MH370 Search Discussed at EAS Seminar

Lessons learned from recent international search and rescue operations, including the ongoing search for MH370, were discussed during an East Asia Summit (EAS) seminar in Sydney this week. Co-chaired by Australia and Thailand, the EAS Rapid Disaster Response: Search and Rescue Lessons Learned Seminar considered the challenges of coordinating search and rescue operations in response to mass-casualty disasters, drawing on the experiences of EAS member states. The seminar focused on search and rescue operations requiring interagency and international coordination and cooperation, particularly those with joint civilian and military contributions.

21 May 2014

MH370 Search Update

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) informs that the vessel 'ADV Ocean Shield' has arrived at Geraldton, Western Australia,  to begin preparations to receive spare parts related to the transponder mounted on the 'Ocean Shield' and the transponder mounted on the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, 'Bluefin-21'. JACC explains that the repairs are necessary to correct a hardware issue affecting the ability of the transponders to communicate with each other during a dive. The problem became apparent during Bluefin-21's last mission on Tuesday. Ocean Shield  was originally going to Dampier to await the transponder parts, however, it was determined that the parts could be delivered to the ship more quickly via the port of Geraldton.

14 Apr 2014

Robotic Submarine Begins Flight MH370 Search

Bluefin 21 on deck: Image courtesy of Bluefin Robotics

An international search has focused on waters west of the Australian city of Perth, with teams racing against time to detect signals before the flight recorder batteries – which last about one month – run out, are to send down a [Bluefin Robotics manufactured] Bluefin 21 AUV, reports BBC News. Search chief Angus Houston told the BBC that the Bluefin-21 drone would be sent down as soon as possible to search for wreckage on the sea floor. Teams have been using a towed pinger locator to listen for signals from the plane's "black box" flight recorders.

28 Aug 2006

New Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boats Named

The Naming Ceremony for the eighth and ninth Armidale Class Patrol Boats to be launched was held at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Fourteen patrol boats in total are to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. The 183.7 ft., all-aluminium monohull vessels were named Broome by Mrs Anne Zilko, daughter of ex crew member Bill Ritchie (subsequently a Commander in the RAN), and Bundaberg by Dr Jocelyn Pixley, daughter of Lieutenant Commander Neville D Pixley RANR, Commanding Officer, HMAS Bundaberg. The ceremony was attended by senior figures from the Royal Australian Navy, Department of Defence, Government and industry including The Hon.