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Joint Agency Coordination Centre News

15 Jan 2016

Search Uncovers a 200 Year Old Shipwreck in Indian Ocean

A shipwreck thought to date to the nineteenth century has been discovered in the Indian Ocean by the team searching for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The search for the plane, over an area of 46,000 square miles, is being directed by Australia’s Joint Agency Coordination Center (JACC). CNN reported on Jan 13 that in December a search boat glimpsed a shipwreck that may be 200 years old. “An anomalous sonar contact was identified in the course of the underwater search, with analysis suggesting the object was likely to be man-made, probably a shipwreck,” the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, an Australian agency directing the search for MH370.

28 Jul 2014

Search for Flight MH370: Update

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) says that a bathymetric survey of the 60,000km2 search area is well underway, with two vessels, the Australian-contracted Fugro Equator and the Chinese survey ship Zhu Kezhen, mapping the ocean floor, while the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is coordinating this work. JACC explains that the bathymetric survey will provide crucial knowledge of the seafloor terrain to begin the actual underwater search. The ATSB is currently assessing tender documentation to engage a primary contractor to manage this complex operation. The underwater search is likely to commence in early September and take up to 12 months to complete.

20 Jun 2014

MH370: The Seventh Search Arc Delineated

The latest information and analysis confirms that MH370 will be found in close proximity to the arc set out in the map [shown here] and labelled as the 7th arc. according to Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC). At the time MH370 reached this arc, the aircraft is considered to have exhausted its fuel and to have been descending. As a result, the aircraft is unlikely to be more than 20 NM (38 km) to the west or 30 NM (55 km) to the east of the arc. Based on all the independent analysis of satellite communications and aircraft performance, the total extent of the 7th arc reaches from latitude 20 degrees S to 39 degrees S. Refinement of the analysis in the coming weeks will reduce the underwater Search Area along this arc to a prioritised 17,500 sq. NM (60,000 sq. km).

02 Jun 2014

Chinese MH 370 Search Ship to Port for Sonar Repair

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) informs that the Chinese survey ship 'Zhu Kezhen' which is conducting the bathymetric survey – or mapping of the ocean floor – is enroute to the port of Fremantle. Zhu Kezhen suffered a defect to its multibeam echosounder and is coming into port to conduct the necessary repairs. The journey is expected to take a couple of days. As previously advised, an Australian contracted survey vessel will also be involved in conducting the bathymetric survey and will arrive in the search area in June. Source: JACC

30 May 2014

Malaysian Airlines MH370 Search: Latest Update

Australia’s Joint Agency Coordination Centre informs that no signs of aircraft debris have been found by the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle 'Bluefin-21' since it joined the search effort. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has advised that the search in the vicinity of the acoustic detections can now be considered complete and in its professional judgement, the area can now be discounted as the final resting place of MH370. acquiring the specialist services required for a comprehensive search of the sea floor in that area. The expert satellite working group continues to review and refine complex analyses of radar and satellite data and aircraft performance data to determine where the aircraft most likely entered the water.

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.

02 May 2014

Search for MH370 Enters New Phase

The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is commencing a new phase and will transition over the coming weeks to an intensified undersea search, informs the Joint Agency Coordination Centre. In the meantime Bluefin-21, which has completed its search of the 314 square kilometre area around the detections made by the Towed Pinger Locator, will continue to search adjacent areas. Mission 17 will commence when weather conditions improve allowing Bluefin-21 to be safely launched from Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield. Ocean Shield will remain on station supporting Bluefin-21 search activity. Over the coming days the vessels that remain on standby for the search will transition to and from the search area. A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion also remains on standby in Perth.

22 Apr 2014

Search Continues for Missing MH370: Latest Update

Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) advises that up to 10 military aircraft and 10 ships will assist in today's search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has planned a visual search area totaling approximately 49,491 square kilometres. The centre of the search area lies approximately 1584 kilometres north west of Perth (see map pictured). Bluefin-21 AUV is currently completing mission nine in the underwater search area. Bluefin-21 has searched approximately two thirds of the focused underwater search area to date. No contacts of interest have been found to date. The focused underwater search area is defined as a circle of 10km radius around the second Towed Pinger Locator detection which occurred on 8 April.