Ocean Infinity presented a new MH370 underwater search proposal to Anthony Loke, the Malaysian Minister of Transport in Kuala Lumpur on 2nd May 2024. Anthony Loke said that based on discussions held on Thursday, the company had submitted a proposal paper along with evidence and information for examination by the relevant parties under his ministry.
Josh Broussard, the Chief Technology Officer, of Ocean Infinity led the team making the presentation, together with their Commercial Manager.
Pete Foley, the former ATSB search director, also attended the meeting in Malaysia. Pete has been campaigning for a new search for several years and is advising Ocean Infinity on the new search.
Prof. Simon Maskell, from Liverpool University, is a scientific advisor to Ocean Infinity and was also in attendance at the meeting. Simon leads a team investigating the possibility of using WSPR to detect and track aircraft. Simon plans to add the WSPR data to the particle filter developed by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) described in their book titled “Bayesian Methods in the Search for MH370” in order to refine the new MH370 search area.
The new search for MH370 is expected to start in November 2024. Anthony Loke said the whole process of examining the new proposal, including cabinet approval would take about three months. Two representatives of the Association for Families of the Passengers and Crew on board MH370 also attended the meeting. The Association welcomed the new proposal and thanked everyone involved.
@All,
A report by Sky News UK on the new search for MH370.
https://news.sky.com/video/flight-mh370-why-is-the-search-back-on-and-how-challenging-will-it-be-13277287
Why is the search back on and how challenging will it be?
Good to know the Malaysian Govt is finally taking the search effort proposal based on your research seriously. I was the Chief Pilot for Regional Operations and flew the B777. 9M-MRO and 9M-MRD were planes I frequently flew. I started my career with MH just a few months apart from Zaharie, and we were based in Kota Kinabalu at the start of our line flying career. Great work.
@All,
An interview on BBC News on the new search for MH370:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mkc2ery53hxd71t7o31n4/Richard-BBC-News-201224.mp4?rlkey=e1qwhcqyy4p52sgxsqmata1z4&dl=0
Just click on the screen to start the video.
I don’t think I was aware of your AF447 close call Richard, that is certainly moving story and certainly explains your interest MH370. My interest probably stems from TWA800, but not as moving story.
@All,
Armada 7808 left Singapore on Saturday 21st December 2024 bound for Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
This is the ship designated by Ocean Infinity for a new underwater search for MH370.
Why is it going to Mauritius?
@Chris L,
Welcome to the blog and thank you for your good question!
Personally I do not believe Armada 7808 is going to Mauritius as announced and that the destination will change as soon as a contract is signed.
The normal sea route from Singapore to Mauritius is via the Malacca Strait and around Banda Aceh.
The route currently being taken by Armada 7808 is through the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.
Thanks Richard. I’ve een following your updates on this site over the past couple of years and have been really impressed with the WSPR analysis. I truly believe the location of MH370 has been pinpointed. Your work has been absolutely magnificent. Thank you.
Thanks for your dedication. Good to know the new search.
As a chinese and an aviation amateur, I read through the accident report and some articles related. I can only tell the obvious value difference from BFOs not knowing what exactly it stands for. Then I find out the search is really a multidisciplinary teamwork. Professionalism, effort, patience, fund and some luck are needed.
The chinese internet is full of conspiracy theories claiming that the plane was seized or shot down by the US military (ignoring the fact that the plane was up in the air for about 7h37m)，and transferred to the base on Diego Garcia (which not even close to 7th Arc). The tense relationship between the US and China actually helps the rumors spread, it’s hard for me to convince others of what really happened. Especially we are suffering from two major civil aviation accidents, both not solved.
The WSPR method is very interesting. You seems confident about the new search. I wonder if the FDR and CVR would still be readable after ten years？
Best Wishes.
So is the WSPR spot included in the proposed 2025 search area or not? The last public proposal/draft from March 2024 specifically didn’t include it (and the size of the area from that proposal also corresponds to the 15,000 km2 that’s now been reported in the media).
@Nik Huzlan,
Welcome to the blog!
Many thanks for your kind words.
As you were the Chief Pilot for Regional Operations at Malaysian Airlines and as you were a pilot that flew Boeing 777s including both 9M-MRO, the aircraft that conducted the flight MH370 and 9M-MRD, the aircraft that conducted the MH17 flight, your appreciation of our work means a lot to me.
@Puuhöylä,
The 15,000 km2 is simply an estimate of the area needed to be searched. Ocean Infinity are of the view that they want to continue searching until they find MH370, but they do not expect it to take more than 15,000 km2.
The WSPR analysis was discussed at length in the meeting between Ocean Infinity and the Malaysian Minister of Transport on 2nd May 2024. My co-author Prof. Simon Maskell was present at that meeting, as a scientific advisor to Ocean Infinity.
Ocean Infinity have listened to a number of experts before deciding where to search and will not leave any stone unturned in their new underwater effort to find MH370. The Malaysian government has also asked a number of questions on the search area proposed by Ocean Infinity, which have been answered to their satisfaction.
@All,
Armada 7804 is no longer heading for Durban, South Africa and is now heading for Port Louis, Mauritius.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pn9jnrgs1vfq9ofp85nti/Armada-7804-Vessel-Finder-23DEC2024-1900-UTC.png?rlkey=z9zb57itn75ytulonnczpsl2b&dl=0
Armada 7808 is passing through the Sunda Strait and is also heading for Port Louis, Mauritius.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r62u78f60pfek9x00mh4k/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-23DEC2024-1942-UTC.png?rlkey=s93d7boda2ghwk8egx6ot4s7f&dl=0
David Learmount
https://davidlearmount.com/2024/12/23/will-the-mh370-wreck-be-found-this-time/
@ventus45,
I agree with David Learmount that Ocean Infinity has listened to several experts and will want to search all plausible and credible possibilities.
Good night. It Is this good news? i mean armada 7804 cancell His trip to Durban and going the Same destination than armada 7808. the Same Vessel Who Will search mh370? thks for the job of keeping us update.
best Wishes
Omar
@Omar Lopez,
It does not help to speculate, we have to wait and see what Ocean Infinity decide.
@Richard. A little more public info on Professor Maskell’s work and slant. The original article is behind a pay wall.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360532248/how-ghost-radio-signals-could-hold-key-finding-missing-flight-mh370
@All,
Merry Christmas to all our readers who celebrate this event.
Armada 7804 is at a full speed of 9.7 knots towards Port Louis, Mauritius and predicted to arrive on 29th December 2024.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rn14g06uasqce3196lywe/Armada-7804-Vessel-Finder-25DEC2024-0710-UTC.png?rlkey=92s0poltma9a3p7lopyryimjf&dl=0
Armada 7808 is at a half speed of 5.6 knots towards Port Louis, Mauritius and predicted to arrive on 14th January 2025.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ua0u4phbi3xojcxli4hxb/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-25DEC2024-0711-UTC.png?rlkey=p30zm26j78x1rvrikcfjyq6zb&dl=0
I suspect neither ship is going to Mauritius. For the purpose of websites like Vessel Finder and Marine Traffic I suspect a destination needs to be included (as in a port) as the website needs to input something and cannot just input the Indian Ocean as it’s not a shipping destination. If you go west across the Indian ocean the first destination you’d come to is Mauritius… so that’s the something that’s has been inputted as the shipping destination.
The Armada is probably going straight to the search area.
note you may not see updates on vessel finder or marine traffic as the ship becomes out of range when it starts going further away from land.
Any thoughts? Doesn’t seem logical it would go to Mauritius… what for? What would be unavailable in Singapore where the journey started.
@Chris L,
I disagree with your assumption that neither Armada 7804 nor 7808 are going to Mauritius.
The Vessel Finder website can have destination as “not available” and uses satellite as well as land based AIS data. The current information I am publishing is based on AIS data via satellite and is therefore not out of range.
Armada 7804 is still on course for Mauritius and only 717 nmi or 3 days away and is continuing at full speed of 10.1 knots.
Armada 7808 is still on course for Mauritius, but 2560 nmi or 15 days away at a slower speed of 7.0 knots.
There is no evidence that either ship has diverted from the currently reported destination of Port Louis, Mauritius as of 26th December 2024 at 06:00 UTC.
There is evidence that Armada 7804 changed its destination during this voyage from Durban, South Africa to Port Louis, Mauritius.
There is evidence that both Armada 7804 and 7808 show a large discrepancy between their reported and predicted ETA in Mauritius.
There is evidence that Armada 7808 is going unusually slow.
Thanks for the information.
I suppose I’m just optimistic about the newly identified search zone and want it searched soon. Thanks again
@Chris L,
We all agree with you on a new search for MH370 soon.
@All,
Not only is Armada 7808 slowing down to currently 6.0 knots, it is wandering off track.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vzi8hasgqzaylxr4eqo4o/Armada-7808-vs-7804-Track-27DEC2024.png?rlkey=hxkgarvfmr4quoeqb8vrtbc9m&dl=0
The red dashed line is the predicted track of Armada 7808 to Mauritius.
The blue line is the actual track of Armada 7804 towards Mauritius.
Armada 7808 is over 30° off track and now around 100 nmi to the North of where it should be, if it really was heading to Mauritius.
It is strange that it appears to be deliberately avoiding going anywhere near Cocos Island.
Also, the draught has not changed in many days, so it must not be using much fuel, or it is ballasting down to compensate for fuel usage, which is plausible for stability reasons, since it seems to be in “light ship” configuration.
Armada 7804 appears to be nearing Port Louis. Why might this be happening, as I would guess they would head directly to the search area. Forgive me for a dumb question if it is the case.
@Jesse Tulloch,
Welcome to the blog!
As far as I am aware, Armada 7804 is not currently assigned by Ocean Infinity to the search for MH370.
Armada 7804 is at 19.1°S 60.7°E as of 28th December 2024 at 11:10 UTC and heading at 10.0 knots (full speed) towards Port Louis, Mauritius with a remaining distance of 190 nmi or 19 hours.
Armada 7808 is assigned to the search, but will only be given the go ahead once the contract is signed between the Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity.
Armada 7808 is in the Indian Ocean at 6.0°S 94.6°E as of 28th December 2024 10:16 UTC and heading at 7.0 knots (slower speed) towards Port Louis, Mauritius with a remaining distance of 2,312 nmi or 13 days.
When can we expect a release regarding dates and locations of the search?
@Jesse Tulloch,
The Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity have said they expect the contract to be finalised early in January 2025.
Ocean Infinity have promised regular updates on the search once the contract is signed. Oliver Plunkett the CEO of Ocean Infinity is quoted in the press as saying: “We look forward to sharing further updates in the new year once we’ve finalised the details and the team gets ready to go”.
Just wanted to say a massive thankyou for everything you have done Richard!
@All,
Armada 7804 is arriving at Port Louis, Mauritius as of 29th December 2024 at 07:16 UTC with a remaining distance of 14 nmi.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z66tcgiufnzn1womp6kht/Armada-7804-Vessel-Finder-29DEC2024-0716-UTC.png?rlkey=6ubdox0yfxdk02bwpc3ctz2ta&dl=0
Armada 7808 is in the Indian Ocean at 7.3°S 92.2°E as of 29th December 2024 07:02 UTC and heading at 9.0 knots towards Port Louis, Mauritius with a remaining distance of 2,147 nmi or 9 days.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9woagl2h8aaoft6h1bh1b/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-29DEC2024-0702-UTC.png?rlkey=bnvfsux1g91p6xrn6c4y6jjyz&dl=0
78 06 is due back in Singapore tomorrow or Tuesday, so will also be in the mix by the time any contract is signed.
@Duncan,
78 04 is on the move again from Port Louis, Mauritius to Durban, South Africa.
So it just refueled ?
Did it’s draught change ?
@ventus45,
The draught of Armada 7804 was 6.3 m just before arriving at Port Louis, Mauritius on 29th December 2024 at 07:16 UTC and is the same now having left Port Louis last night at 22:34 UTC.
The purpose of the stop in Mauritius does not appear to have been for refuelling.
So, a port visit of only 15 hours 18 minutes.
Hardly enough time to stock up on slabs of tinnies for New Year’s Eve festivities.
Considering the draught in Singapore and the draught now, it is obviously not a reliable indicator of anything.
@ventus45,
I agree that the draught is not a useful indicator. It appears to be a manual input that is seldom changed.
Happy New Year all!
Is there any update about the whereabouts of the vessels Armada 78 08 and 78 04? Or when will the contract be finalized?
@Mikko,
Armada 7808 is in the Indian Ocean at 14.0°S 76.8°E as of 2nd January 2025 18:47 UTC and heading at 8.4 knots towards Port Louis, Mauritius with a remaining distance of 1,156 nmi or 5 days.
Armada 7804 is heading now to Cape Town, South Africa and is expected to arrive in 6 days.
There is no update on contract signing since the last statement, which was that the signing will be in early January 2025.
@Richard
I thought 7804 was going to Durban. When did it change to Cape Town ?
Just out of curiosity:-
(a) has the draught on either 7804 or 7808 changed recently ?
(b) where are they now, course speed eta’s etc ?
@ventus45,
Armada 7804 was heading to Durban, South Africa on 17th December 2024. Armada 7804 then changed the destination to Port Louis, Mauritius on 23rd December 2024. Armada 7804 then changed the destination to Cape Town, South Africa on 2nd January 2025.
The draught of Armada 7804 is unchanged at 6.3 m since 23rd December 2024. The draught of Armada 7808 is unchanged at 5.3 m since 22nd December 2024.
Armada 7804 is underway at 31.2°S 35.6°E as of 4th January 2025 08:09 UTC towards Cape Town, South Africa at 9.0 knots and expected to arrive in 4 days on 8th January 2025.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6wvd0cn9mdupw3txek82d/Armada-7804-Vessel-Finder-04JAN2025-0809-UTC.png?rlkey=ggii203ao5glf3qodevrhv3wn&dl=0
Armada 7808 is underway at 15.8°S 71.5°E as of 4th January 2025 06:19 UTC towards Port Louis, Mauritius at 9.4 knots and expected to arrive in 3 days on 7th January 2025.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e53uzbozh1g29j03yjhh9/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-04JAN2025-0619-UTC.png?rlkey=pv8wh4bgbtgl7sgno3twodcl8&dl=0
@All,
Armada 7808 is underway at 19.2°S 59.9°E as of 7th January 2025 07:16 UTC towards Port Louis, Mauritius at 9.6 knots and expected to arrive today at 22:30 UTC (tomorrow 02:30 local time). The draught has reduced to 5.0 m.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/shhqhbpvcfahbgt5rmv5b/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-07JAN2025-0716-UTC.png?rlkey=yspmt3znx0cxu32lkp1kzdbv1&dl=0
@All,
Armada 7808 arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius on 8th January 2025 at 05:02 UTC.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4zntljselykru68bxq9hv/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-08JAN2025-0502-UTC.png?rlkey=78srcceu6pd2g48cyec5uw6yw&dl=0
Could 78 08 be connected to the drift analysis which terminated at Mauritius?
Let’s see how your scrupulous work benefits the world next.
@Will,
Port Louis, Mauritius is not the best base for the new search, it is just a transit stop for Armada 7808. I don’t think it is connected to the drift analysis.
Fremantle, Australia is closer to the search area (1548 km) than Port Louis, Mauritius (4385 km).
My interview today with Geoffrey Thomas about Malaysian 370 debris
https://youtu.be/0YwgkjR8WFA?si=cCbBrDHInQEMAzxF
@BG 370,
An excellent video on the MH370 debris. It shows how the Malaysian government is not taking MH370 seriously.
@Richard,
“It shows how the Malaysian government is not taking MH370 seriously.”
Indeed, the refusal of the Malaysian government to even collect, let alone comprehensively examine debris, is slam dunk proof (if any more was needed) that the Malaysian government is not taking MH370 seriously.
Perhaps Duncan might like to provide us with his explanation as to why the Malaysian government is not interested in any of the debris.
@ventus45
I agree that they should have aggregated and properly examined all the debris, and I’m certainly not going to defend them for failing to do so.
As for the explanation, I think it’s just another example of them only coming to the party reluctantly, as per my reply to your other post a couple of minutes ago.
Excellent presentation of debris. The big picture to me is the debris and other evidence ( I would add home sim data), which points to a search area, different from the popular search areas, is discounted and under-appreciated, and sometimes even condemned, because it is not consistent with the preferred assumptions of straight flight to deep south, and UFO adduction etc.
@TBill,
The debris is the only physical evidence we have at the moment.
The Zaharie Shah home Microsoft flight simulator, Co-Pilot mobile phone detection, Inmarsat satellite data and WSPR are only electronic evidence.
@All,
Armada 7804 has left Cape Town, South Africa and is heading to Las Palmas, Canary Islands. It is expected to arrive on 30th January 2025.
78 04 and 78 08 are clearly heading for other jobs and are therefore out of contention for the time being at least.
As per my 29 December post, I think 78 06 is the one to keep an eye on at the moment. Currently sitting in Singapore doing nowt.
Good Afternoon.It seems like a very far destination from the search area for MH 370.
@All,
Armada 7808 is under way from Port Louis, Mauritius to Cape Town and expected to arrive on 21st January 2025.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6pj0nb6ekbqa80ll3335u/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-09JAN2025-0622-UTC.png?rlkey=xbgvvf5zs51v5dkfp2okk5ng4&dl=0
Armada 7804 is underway to Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
Armada 7806 is still moored in Singapore.
Armada 8601 is still moored in Vung Tau.
No sign of a search agreement in early January 2025 as promised.
I am reminded of that scene in the beginning of the movie “The Battle of Britain”, where the British Ambassador and the German Envoy are meeting in Switzerland.
The conversation starts out all very correct per protocols, but they soon get down to some rather blunt exchanges.
At one point the German Envoy says that “Hitler offers Guarantees”, and the British Ambassador responds with: “Experience shows – Hitler’s Guarantees – Guarantee Nothing”.
And of course, the Battle of Britain began.
The present situation with the Malaysian Government may as well have been lifted directly from the script.
@All,
Is the Malaysian government getting cold feet?
Breaking news from Geoffrey Thomas at Airline News:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMijzpwk4hA
Has Ocean Infinity abandoned the new search, because the Malaysian government failed to sign the contract?
Armada 7808, the vessel originally designated for the search of MH370 by Ocean Infinity, is on its way to Cape Town, South Africa and has been assigned to another project.
Hey,
What was said at the end of the video has confused me… Why would Malaysia need to sign a contract with Ocean Infinity where they pay a fee if the aircraft is found, when in this video it is revealed that there are two companies out there willing to conduct the search with no contract. Malaysia may as well not sign the contract with Ocean Infinity and save £70m. Let the other companies search for it with no contract.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMijzpwk4hA
Clearly this is all down to money. OI wish to have a guaranteed fee of £56m if they find the aircraft. They know their costs.
If malaysia will not provide the guarantee then OI need to look elsewhere and cut malaysia out completely.
In terms of any future salvage position – should the aircraft be found – I’d ignore malaysia on that front also – just get on with it and do the job properly – what can they do anyway – answer nothing – the boxes can be analysed in the US – findings published – job done.
Trying to meet all the requirements of malaysia is a non starter – ignore them altogether I say – they have had their chance to be fair.
I expect they want a share in the resulting publicity income to reduce their overall obligations regarding this or something like that.
Someone other than Malaysia therefore needs to bank roll this search – expecting it all to be on the back of OI is ridiculous. If no search money is forthcoming – let the aircraft sit there at the bottom of the ocean.
Moving ships here there and everywhere all costs money. OI should wash their hands of malaysia after this fiasco – full stop.
In investigations involving US-built aircraft, the US NTSB is involved. Could it be investigated without Malaysia’s permission?
If the black boxes are found, what are the chances the data can be retrieved? Apologies if this question was answered previously. I hope they are found for the sake of the families.
@Pete,
Welcome to the blog!
The black boxes will still be readable after all this time. It is non-volatile memory, that does not require any electrical power to preserve the memory state.
@Matthew Barich,
Welcome to the blog!
The investigation team comprised accredited representatives from:
• Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of United Kingdom.
• Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) of Australia.
• Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la Sécurité de l’Aviation civile (BEA) of
France.
• Civil Aviation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CAAC).
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of United States of America.
• National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) of Indonesia.
• Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) of Singapore.
The investigation team must also include the Malaysian authorities as the aircraft is registered in Malaysia.
@All,
An article in The Times of London by Bernard Lagan their correspondent in Australia.
Print Version:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/efcww8ay6abjwjy2gpbcf/Hunting-for-MH370-from-Hampshire-The-Times.png?rlkey=0kvkfqk6q3uumzfat9s528a5l&dl=0
Online Version:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3x1fzp556bu9u16y5s5bm/Inside-the-new-search-for-MH370-starting-from-a-Southampton-suburb.pdf?rlkey=uwb4rbiu71htay5ndjxnn8kr6&dl=0
@Richard, thanks for posting this. It seems to be the best-informed article to be published since Loke announced that they intended to accept the OI proposal.
Do you happen to know whether OI co-operated with the author? Some of the details, such as the proposed crewing arrangements, suggest they did cooperate, in which case I think OI must be pretty confident that a contract is imminent. I hope their confidence is not misplaced.
@Duncan,
Bernard Lagan had to rely on older press releases from Ocean Infinity.
Bernard wrote to me in a private email, that he had tried to contact Ocean Infinity for an update on the proposed new search, but they were not making any comment publicly at this time.
Thanks for that additional info.
In that case I should have said best-researched rather than best-informed.
@All,
An article in Changing Times by Annette Gartland:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ki8s7jpe83g6uazoc0k9y/Malaysian-government-agrees-in-principle-to-new-search-for-MH370-CHANGING-TIMES.pdf?rlkey=33y5t1b56rurrhuaail7ka7us&dl=0
@Richard. That describes a 15,000 sqkm search still which OI illustrated as being between 33 and 36 deg S so did not include your site.
Is the intention now 15,000 + 2,830 = 17,830 or has that 15,000 been redistributed please ?
Have we had any updates on the status of the contract/search?
@Jesse Tulloch,
Unfortunately not! There is simply a lot of speculation as to what the sticking points might be and why the contract signing has been delayed from the original agreed date of November 2024.
@David,
Annette Gartland was quoting the Ocean Infinity slides presented on 3rd March 2024 at the MH370 remembrance event in Kuala Lumpur. A lot of work on WSPRnet based technology has been done since then. The discussions with Ocean Infinity are subject to a non-disclosure agreement, but the following information is in the public domain. The simple answer to your question is that Ocean Infinity regard the 15,000 km2 as only an estimate and a WSPRnet based search area will be included, but not necessarily the 2,830 km2.
1. Research Summary.
This slide lists the Universities and individuals consulted by Ocean Infinity. The list includes Liverpool University and Richard Godfrey.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4688b5gnwhgee698bl1r9/Research-Summary.png?rlkey=pyhdzm6ktp8i34id7melhxhtd&dl=0
2. Research Findings.
This slide shows that the consensus opinion of various experts was 33°S to 36°S, approximately an additional 15,000 km2 and wider from the 7th Arc. The slide also shows that a single reliable position for the aircraft in the final few hours of the flight derived from Richard Godfrey’s WSPRnet work would make the potential search area much smaller.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q52zldhur0efy2ow23xc7/Research-Findings.png?rlkey=ucxrrjbrmqbhj4gilm9wgwpgd&dl=0
3. Ocean Infinity Search Proposal.
The Ocean Infinity search proposal was covering approximately 15,000 km2 seafloor, between 33°S and 36°S and extending out to approximately 45 nmi. The proposal followed the consensus of the various analysts and excluded the WSPRnet based search area of 2,830 km2 at that time.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9fgadj8f0yxawn1kjotj1/Ocean-Infinity-Search-Proposal.png?rlkey=q71b4kyqol52e2bmtdpeah3ml&dl=0
4. Meeting with Anthony Loke on 2nd May 2024.
As reported in this post, Ocean Infinity presented their proposal in detail to Anthony Loke (Malaysian Minister of Transport) on 2nd May 2024. Prof. Simon Maskell was present at that meeting as Scientific Advisor to Ocean Infinity. Simon is a co-author of all our recent papers on using WSPRnet data to build a form of passive radar.
Simon is also leading a large scale study at Liverpool University researching the detection and tracking of aircraft using WSPRnet data. At that meeting the WSPRnet technology and proposed search area based on that technology were both discussed extensively. At that time, Simon reported that it is more likely than not that WSPRnet technology can be used to detect and track aircraft and his message was well received.
The research is ongoing, but meanwhile it is nearing completion and the confidence in the technology is growing. The research involved building three databases. Firstly a database of the flight paths of all 73,540 aircraft in the air at some point on 1st August 2023 based on the confirmed (not estimated) ADS-B data from ADS-B Exchange. Secondly a database of all the propagation paths of the 3,911,727 WSPRnet transmissions on that day. Thirdly a database of all interactions between the aircraft flight paths and the WSPRnet propagation paths.
Simon now believes he can convince Ocean Infinity to search the WSPRnet based area, based on the results of his research. Simon intends to add WSPRnet data to the Bayesian Method in the Search for MH370 published by the DSTG and refine the search area result.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sayy3up394sv94x1rpavl/Meeting-with-Anthony-Loke-3rd-May-2024.png?rlkey=fkhyait7vgewuhynj8gk36hii&dl=0
I thought your WSPR area was already part of the 15,000km², so I’m shocked to learn that it isn’t. Given the amount of work you’ve done on this and the promising results achieved, it would be a travesty if it wasn’t searched, so it’s disappointing that Simon is having to actively campaign for its inclusion.
More generally, OI should be able to search wherever they want in whatever order they want – and without having to keep going back to the Malaysians for permission to search new areas. That would be completely intolerable and result in delay after delay, so I really hope this isn’t the sticking point in the ongoing negotiations.
@Richard. Thank you for that fullsome and informative response.
@Duncan,
I apologise if I did not make myself clear.
When you say: “I thought your WSPR area was already part of the 15,000km², so I’m shocked to learn that it isn’t.”
Perhaps you mean: “I thought your WSPR area was already part of the 15,000km², so I’m shocked to learn that it wasn’t originally on 3rd March 2024.
When you say: “Given the amount of work you’ve done on this and the promising results achieved, it would be a travesty if it wasn’t searched, so it’s disappointing that Simon is having to actively campaign for its inclusion.”
Simon is not running a campaign, he is acting as a scientific advisor.
Ocean Infinity want to continue searching anywhere they choose until they find MH370. They consider MH370 as “unfinished business”.
Oliver Plunkett at the MH370 9th Commemoration event in 2023 stated: “Only the other day I wrote to my good friends Peter Foley and Andy Sherrell, that it is one of my life’s ambitions to go back and search for MH370”.
@All,
Armada 7808 is now under way from Port Louis, Mauritius to Durban, South Africa and expected to arrive in 2.4 days, late on 15th January 2025. The ship is making 10.1 knots on a course of 260.1°T and is still showing a destination of Cape Town, but changed course last night for Durban.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y5ko9n3a8pdovyt3jgr11/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-13JAN2025-1617-UTC.png?rlkey=zftokroopp6iv63a3uq7fpx8m&dl=0
Armada 7804 is still underway to Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
Armada 7806 is still moored in Singapore.
Armada 8601 is still moored in Vung Tau.
No sign of a search agreement yet.
@Richard
I assume the contract has not been signed? Has the OI gone dark on you or have you been in contact with them? There’s been literally nothing from Malaysians since 20th of December.
@Mikko,
There has been no announcement by either Malaysia or Ocean Infinity that a contract has been signed.
Armada 7808 is approaching the port of Richard’s Bay, South Africa as of 15th January 2025 at 14:01 UTC. The vessel is still showing Cape Town as its destination.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2ugmsebp9mbse3yel8116/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-15JAN2025-1401-UTC.png?rlkey=ojtrxohf2xxxemvci4vydctpn&dl=0
Armada 7806 is still moored in Singapore harbour.
There is nothing to indicate that Ocean Infinity is on its way to the MH370 search area.
MH370 (9M-MRO) vanished into the SIO on Saturday the 8th of March 2014.
At the 10th Anniversary Minister Loke announced that the Malaysian Government was considering a proposal from OI for a new search.
After months of negotiations, finally, in December 2024, Minister Loke announced that the new search had been approved by the Malaysian Cabinet, and that the search would go ahead early in the new year (subject to the finalization of some contract details).
This led to high hopes among the NOK, and the MH370 community generally.
However, there has been no press release by either OI or the Malaysian Government since.
It has to be noted that OI had prepositioned Armada 7804, 7806, and 7808 in Singapore in anticipation of the contract being signed, and they were ready to go as soon as the contract was signed.
However, something has clearly happened behind the scenes.
Early in the new year, without any further information from either OI or Minister Loke, Armada 7804 suddenly slipped her moorings and departed Singapore harbour without any announcement, and headed towards South Africa.
Armada 7804 has now rounded the Cape of Good Hope and is proceeding north into the Atlantic Ocean.
Some days later, Armada 7808 (the vessel apparently specifically prepared for being the primary vessel for the search) also departed Singapore harbour, again, without any fan-fare, and is following in Armada 7804’s wake towards the Cape of Good Hope.
If Armada 7808 maintains it’s current course and speed, it will round the Cape of Good Hope in five days’ time.
If that occurs, I think we might have to rename the cape of good hope as the Cape of Last Hope, at least as far as any search for MH370 this season is concerned.
Clearly, OI has redeployed it’s ships to other tasks, so the burning question is: what has gone wrong, what has happened behind the scenes, and why is neither OI or Loke talking about it ?
The 11th Anniversary will be on Saturday the 8th of March 2025, a Saturday, the same as when the flight departed.
I wonder what Minister Loke will say at this anniversary?
Will he attend ?
@All,
As of 16th January 2025 at 06:12 UTC, Armada 7808 has changed its course again and is now under way along the South African coast from the vicinity of Richard’s Bay, South Africa to Cape Town, South Africa and expected to arrive in 5 days time on 21st January 2025. The ship is making 7.0 knots on a course of 221.7°T in heavy seas and making use of the strong Agulhas current that sweeps down the East coast of South Africa.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ccb2pp29mgp1taojjqx1v/Armada-7808-Vessel-Finder-16JAN2025-0612-UTC.png?rlkey=ih0qvztvgyoar3g0tbu5fkvxm&dl=0
Armada 7804 is still underway to Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
Armada 7806 is still moored in Singapore.
Armada 8601 is still moored in Vung Tau.
No sign of a search agreement and no indication that Ocean Infinity is on its way to the MH370 search area.
@All,
I predict that the expected new search for MH370 by Ocean Infinity will not be taking place after all. Ocean Infinity only want to search, if they can be successful.
The sticking points in the current negotiation appear to be:
1. Malaysia insists on controlling the search by Ocean Infinity in real time.
2. Malaysia insists on having its own people on board Ocean Infinity’s search ship.
3. Malaysia insists on taking custody of any evidence found.
Malaysia has no intention to approve a search by Ocean Infinity, unless they have full control of where Ocean Infinity will search, with their own people on board the Armada vessel, custody of what is recovered from the MH370 wreckage (if found) and what information is made publicly available. Ocean Infinity quite rightly cannot accept all those terms, especially having other people on board their vessel. If Malaysia wanted to agree to Ocean Infinity’s proposal, they would have done so by now.
It appears that some people in Malaysia are worried that Ocean Infinity will succeed in finding MH370 in this new underwater search. If Malaysia does not agree to the OI proposal and OI decide not to search without an agreement with Malaysia, then Malaysia is in danger to lose control of the search and OI will miss the opportunity to be recompensed $70 M. Malaysia was willing to play along with Ocean Infinity as long as they have control. Meanwhile it puts other parties off launching an alternative search for MH370, until it is publicly clear that Ocean Infinity will not search. There are others out there who are willing to search without an agreement with Malaysia or recompense from Malaysia. Imagine the global media pressure on Malaysia, when someone reveals that they have found the main wreckage of MH370. Malaysia will not want to leave the door open for a search, that they do not control, or be forced into having to react to the locating of the MH370 wreckage on terms that they do not dictate.
The risk for the Malaysian government is that evidence may come to light that shows that the Malaysian government or Malaysian Airlines is culpable. The Malaysian government and Ocean Infinity are not saying anything publicly about the sticking points in the negotiations. Malaysia fears that a new search would actually find MH370 and prove the Captain was culpable. This would mean that Malaysia and their sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional, as the owner of Malaysian Airlines, would be subject to 238 multi million dollar compensation claims from the families of the other passengers and crew. The former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the “top levels” of the Malaysian government have long suspected that the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was a mass murder-suicide by the pilot. If the pilot was culpable, then the airline was culpable. Malaysia Airlines is owned entirely by the Malaysian government, through the sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional.
Nothing the Malaysian government has done speaks to a fervent desire to find MH370. The Malaysian government has a responsibility as a member of the ICAO to work to solve the mystery of the disappearance of MH370 with 239 people on board. The Malaysian government is ignoring the safety of the flying public. The Malaysian government is ignoring the plight of the MH370 families. The international media has failed to put pressure on the Malaysian government to act responsibly and agree to a new search for MH370. With the absence of any press release from either the Malaysian government or Ocean Infinity, we have to assume that they have been unable to reach an agreement. We now have 16th January 2025, so in my book “early January” has ended without an agreement between Malaysia and Ocean Infinity.
The Malaysian authorities have failed to find the cause of the disappearance for the last 10 years. The Malaysian military failed to provide the raw radar data they possess. Recovering the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) will no doubt reveal a suicide note from Captain Zaharie Shah. Recovering the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) will reveal the actual flight path of MH370 and might possibly show that the radar trace presented to the families at the Hotel Lido in Beijing was faked. Officers from the Malaysian Air Force tried to board the Ocean Infinity vessel Seabed Constructor on 8th February 2018, when it docked in Fremantle, Australia, in an attempted coup to take over the investigation of the disappearance of MH370. The Malaysian military want to get their people on board, control the search, take custody of the FDR, CVR and other evidence, as well as control what information is made public.
@Richard
I appreciate that you can’t reveal your sources, but are the three potential sticking points you’ve listed based on any “inside information” from those involved in (or at least close to) the negotiations?
Regarding those sticking points:
No. 1 is clearly a deal-breaker and completely incompatible with the no-find, no-fee nature of the proposed contract.
No. 2 is the same as in the 2018 search and should be manageable provided the Malaysians are few in number, suitably qualified and present as observers only.
No. 3 only becomes an issue when salvage begins, and can hardly be objected to legally since the wreckage of the aircraft remains the property of Malaysia. Furthermore, unless there was a Malaysian vessel shadowing the search vessel, any wreckage salvaged would have to remain with OI until the search vessel returned to port.
@All,
An interview with Geoffrey Thomas as Malaysia dithers on deciding a new search for MH370:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvMwj41Ts5U
I predict that the expected new search for MH370 by Ocean Infinity will not be taking place after all.
Here is an article on 42,000 feet with Geoffrey Thomas:
https://42kft.com/new-mh370-search-explosive-claims-as-malaysia-dithers/
@All,
Blaine Gibson and an investigative journalist friend of mine covering MH370 were both in Fremantle on the 8th February 2018, as was Azharuddin Rahman the Chairman of the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation, who was given a tour of Seabed Constructor.
Peter Lloyd, the Australian journalist, who broke the news of the attempted coup by the Malaysian Air Force officers was tipped off by Blaine Gibson. Blaine met with Azharuddin Rahman, whilst in Fremantle and commented: “Either this is just a rogue empire building colonel, or an attempt by the Ministry of Defence to take of the key evidence in the investigation and make it a purely Malaysian matter. My money is on the latter.”
Here is a link to the article by Peter Lloyd:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a9se97zs500wqad2eec5u/MH370-Malaysian-military-sidelines-crash-investigators-as-power-play-emerges-on-search-team-ABC-N.pdf?rlkey=ra4xfuwqwf4njftefzicefwjm&dl=0
Seabed Constructor arriving in Fremantle on 8th February 2018 (source Andre Kartschall)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ngsx1ymopxbvbmw8ovcvz/SC.jpg?rlkey=dh7ypdwykximt3844gzyqesge&dl=0
Azharuddin Rahman (middle) being shown an AUV on Seabed Constructor (source OI).
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yujo1p02ttqtlfqipelmh/Azharuddin-SC-Visit.png?rlkey=y2pta9nhrzuy54f8kyga7zato&dl=0
In February 2018 some Air Force and Army officers illegaly seized all the recovered MH 370 floating debris from the Ministry of Transport storage and took it to their own facility. They intended to remove the Annex 13 team from Ocean Infinity’s Seabed Constructor and replace it with their own personnel to recover the black boxes.
Their plot was leaked to the press and resulted in this article.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/malaysia-replaces-civilian-mh370-investigators-with-pilots/9410586
The officers explained that they needed their Air Force personnel on the ship to recover and take possession of the black boxes for national security reasons. Malay Civil Aviation Chief Dato Azharuddin said no, it must be DCA and Annex 13 personnel on the ship to search and take possession.
Dato Azharuddin went to Fremantle himself to tour the ship and ensure that the Annex 13 team remained on board with the planned rotation. He ordered the police to return the illegally seized MH 370 debris to Ministry of Transport custody, and they did.
@All,
Some readers have complained that the link at http://www.abc.net.au is not working and they are getting a “page not found” message.
If this link does not work:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/malaysia-replaces-civilian-mh370-investigators-with-pilots/9410586
Then use this link to get a downloaded .pdf file:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/a9se97zs500wqad2eec5u/MH370-Malaysian-military-sidelines-crash-investigators-as-power-play-emerges-on-search-team-ABC-N.pdf?rlkey=ra4xfuwqwf4njftefzicefwjm&dl=0
@All,
What is also interesting is, why Malaysia could sign a contract with OI in 2018, and why Malaysia can’t sign a contract in 2025.
What has changed?
I am sure that OI thought it would be simply a question of copy and paste from the old contract and an easy step to get the new contract signed.
But apparently not!
Finding MH370 is a very difficult task, if not impossible. My guess is the aircraft was flown far from Arc7 because the perpetrator(s) knew how to conceal crash site. Finding MH370 probably implies and multi-years effort with a thousand times more open-mindedness than we are currently seeing. However, what this search can accomplish is, like the other OI search, is ruling out the popular “no-fault” theories avoiding blame of anyone. Negative results play an important role in defining what the answer is not, and in this case perhaps closure, because some school of thought is we are not interested in the worst case nefarious scenario (which I think is what we probably witnessed).
Good afternoon Bill.
What you mean with “(which I think is what we probably witnessed).? Did Captain Zaharie a massive muerder suicide?
There is evidence that he is guilty and others (as I think) that he did not do it. Again, there is no suicide note, political message, etc. What is the point of giving a political message if it is not known what it was? Dying in apparent suicide and killing all the people on the plane would make sense if he left some message (for example Andrea Lubitz, who was about to lose his license as a pilot and was on psychiatric leave the same day he flew). The Germanwings co-pilot had his clear motive for committing suicide, in the case of Zaharie Ahmad Shah, there is none, or at least I did not find A SINGLE MOTIVE.
Sincerely.
Omar
Omar
Yes Omar my personal belief is that MH370 was a protest, and the strategy was probably to hide the aircraft so it might never be found. I believe the perpetrator was smart enough to fly far from Arc7, whereas Arc7 is where the aircraft went on radio silence and perhaps visual silence, still with fuel. I actually feel the aircraft might be found of we accepted that apparent reality, but denial by many, including aviation interests, largely prevents serious consideration. Serious finding of MH370 would have involved Malaysia retaining NTSB/FBI assistance, so without that, we have politics as usual, not a bona fide effort. Sorry to say.
Good morning. I keep asking even though it was already answered by Richard before. Why fly 7 hours south of the Indian Ocean and “hide” the evidence of the suicide? If I want to leave a political message (as suggested) what does it matter? It doesn’t matter, I would have crashed immediately and even if they find the plane (if I had crashed in the China Sea) they recover the black boxes and that’s it. End of story, end of mystery. That question comes to mind because “maybe” Captain Zaharie is not the culprit and other things happened. Example: kidnapping by a passenger. (Zaharie’s last word “good night Malaysia 370” sounds perfectly normal. No signs of stress, anxiety, no suicide note, no farewell letter. His wife says their marriage was fine (unlike some media outlets reported that they were about to split up). For example: I have a first person shooter game on my laptop, however that doesn’t mean I go out and kill people (just because I have a game on my laptop). Captain Zaharie did simulations at home as an airline pilot. It’s not enough proof to blame him for that. It’s just one piece of the puzzle but it’s not the whole puzzle. Again, if I want to kill myself and leave a political message, I’m not going to travel 7 more hours to run out of fuel. I wouldn’t care if they didn’t “find the plane” so what?
Sincerely, Omar
@Duncan,
My sources are close to the negotiations and to the MH370 ICAO Annex 13 investigation team.
1. Malaysia insists on controlling the search by Ocean Infinity in real time.
We are agreed that this would be a show stopper in the negotiations between Malaysia and Ocean Infinity. On a “no find, no fee” basis Ocean Infinity are carrying the entire financial risk and it is unacceptable that Malaysia dictates when and where they should search.
2. Malaysia insists on having its own people on board to control the search area.
You are correct that during the previous search by Ocean Infinity in 2018, that a limited number of ICAO Annex 13 investigators were allowed on board as observers.
Azharuddin Rahman from the Department of Civil Aviation visited Seabed Constructor on 8th February 2018, when it docked in Fremantle, Australia. He was given a tour of the ship by Ocean Infinity and ensured the ongoing rotation of ICAO Annex 13 investigators as observers.
During his visit Malaysian Air Force officers under the command of Colonel Lou Ing Hiong attempted to take over the MH370 investigation, board the Seabed Constructor in Fremantle, Australia (which was refused) and took custody of the MH370 wreckage which was stored at the Ministry of Transport in Malaysia (which Azharuddin Rahman had the police return).
There are a number of people close to the investigation, who are concerned about the growing number of military personnel joining the Air Accident investigation team and that Malaysia insist on a leadership status and no longer an observer status for the search for MH370.
The original Malaysian 20 members of the ICAO Annex 13 team were all civilians, including 3 airline captains:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9jzhy56th36iltsjercvo/Malaysian-MH370-Investigators.numbers?rlkey=2ysjuq8ufegg4mdrveqtmftln&dl=0
The current Malaysian 7 members of the Air Accident Inspectors team are all military, with one exception:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6xksu8b8bv9zgo6ub3mtq/Malaysian-Air-Accident-Inspectors.png?rlkey=3nn25a19oryxzfxvld0fi8c7z&dl=0
Please note that Seabed Constructor (the vessel used by OI for the search in 2018) was a much larger vessel than the Armada 78 series. Seabed Constructor was fully manned by a crew of professional sailors, and all of the OI technical AUV staff were also fully qualified seafarers in addition to their obvious technical search jobs.
Non-ocean qualified “observers” are “sea riders” who are essentially “dead weight passengers” from an operational point of view, that pose a significant safety risk, not only to themselves, but also to the other members of the crew, and possibly even to the ship itself, in an emergency at sea. The number of ICAO Annex 13 investigators that could be, and were, safety embarked on Seabed Constructor as “escorted observers” was limited to a few for these reasons.
To even contemplate embarking a similar set of “observers” on a much smaller “minimum manned vessel” such as the Armada 78 series, into a challenging and potentially risky operational task, into an ocean known for it’s dangers, borders on the criminally irresponsible. No Captain would entertain taking such people aboard, he would lose his Master’s Ticket if anything untoward did happen. I have no doubt that the Malaysian demand for having some of their AirForce Officers aboard would be quite justifiably rejected out of hand by the Captain.
3. Malaysia insists on taking custody of any evidence found.
You are correct to say under international law that any wreckage salvaged remains the property of Malaysia. There are a number of people close to the investigation, who note that Malaysia has failed to repatriate and analyse all the MH370 debris that has been handed in to the relevant authorities. One item was handed to Colonel Damasy on 22nd December 2022 at the offices of BEA Madagascar and signed for. Colonel Marzuki (AAIB Malaysia) wrote to me on 18th February 2023, that he “has contacted the Madagascar authority and it is in the process of repatriation the debris back to Malaysia.” Since then nothing has happened in terms of repatriation. The debris is still with Colonel Damasy at the offices of BEA Madagascar. Colonel Marzuki is no longer with the AAIB Malaysia.
Many believe that Malaysia does not have a similar capability as the NTSB (US), AAIB (UK) or BEA (France) to perform a thorough analysis of the FDR, CVR and items recovered from the main MH370 wreckage site. Ocean Infinity have the capability of salvaging such items and the previous 2018 contract contained an agreed list of items.
In order for the MH370 investigation to be completed in a credible manner, it is crucial that the ICAO Annex 13 Accredited Partners remain fully involved:
Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) United Kingdom
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Australia
Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité d l’aviation civile (BEA) France
Civil Aviation Administration of the People’s Republic of China
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) USA
National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) Indonesia
Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) Singapore
@Richard
Thanks for your comprehensive response.
If the sticking points are from reliable sources then it certainly doesn’t look good, but I shall wait for Loke to announce that the deal is off and pay very close attention to the explanation he gives.
I don’t see how he’ll be able to spin it without the next of kin, the media and the world at large being up in arms.
Richard- Sounds like Malaysia actually has an idea or fear where MH370 may have crashed, and wants to avoid searching there and/or have control of debris found. This behavior also played out in 2018 when Malaysia military tried to take over the OI search…some feel that was when they got closer to Broken Ridge. Malaysia should probably relax as I do not hear much interest in searching extensively at BR (maybe a token effort) , it is about 100 times harder to search BR, and my guess the pilot flew quite far away from Arc7. I am not sure why giving Malaysia control is so bad. In the unlikely event MH370 found, the families get closure and the one thing I ask of Malaysia is tell us location within +-3km. Malaysia if they abdicate analysis of black boxes will have to explain that to the world, but I see that as unlikely (1) to find MH370 and (2) unlikely Malaysia would want to hide all results from the world (maybe some confidentiality would be maintained).
@TBill,
Giving Malaysia control is not a good idea:
1. It is Ocean Infinity who are taking the financial risk, not Malaysia.
2. If, as you say, Malaysia has an idea or fear where MH370 is to be found, then if Malaysia would prefer MH370 is not found, they could make sure the Ocean Infinity search fails.
I often imagine MH370’s last moments as being similar to Ethiopian Airlines 961, fuel exhaustion a POSSIBLE correlation in both.
My extended family owned P 51 Mustangs, 1997 – 2016. My Uncle flew Belfast C1 CARGO for Air Atlantique. Engine oil on my sleeves since I was six.
MH370 is permanently stitched into the minds of everyone who acknowledges the modern aircraft as an INDIVIDUAL being. Corporate agenda only restitches the final fraction of MISSING understanding which March 8th depleted away.
If OI engages, yet cannot salvage, travel time and the declining window may scatter predominant public and investor faith altogether. Chalking this as OI’s fault would be a tragedy.
Despite what unfolds, I commend Richard and Professor Maskell and every conscience involved in dialing UP this volume.
@All,
Armada 7806 left Singapore harbour on 19th January 2025 and is bound for Mauritius, where it is expected to arrive in 15 days time on 3rd February 2025:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pyxxfysbugj26hocxz99j/Armada-7806-Vessel-Finder-19JAN2025-0834-UTC.png?rlkey=6adtbudla5mlhnsi8f5r5tavt&dl=0
If it retains that destination and heading after it passes through the Sunda Strait, the mainstream media will hopefully start asking questions and the Malaysians will come under pressure to make a statement.
@All,
Geoffrey Thomas has posted an interview with Blaine Gibson and myself on his web site:
https://42kft.com/mh370-faltering-search-and-power-struggle/
There is still no contract signed between Malaysia and Ocean Infinity.
The last candidate search vessel Armada 7806 has left Singapore bound for Mauritius.
It has become evident that there is a power struggle going on in Malaysia between those who want a new search for MH370, such as the original Malaysian investigation team and those who don’t, such as the Malaysian Air Force officers, who attempted a coup.
Malaysian Air Force officers attempted to board the Ocean Infinity ship Seabed Constructor when it docked in Fremantle, Australia on 8th February 2018. They wanted to remain on board for the rest of the search and take custody of any wreckage, if MH370 was found. There were already official observers from the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) on board, it would have created a conflict of interest immediately between the civilian and military personnel from Malaysia.
Blaine Gibson was in Fremantle at the time. Azharuddin Rahman from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) visited Seabed Constructor. He was given a tour of the ship by Ocean Infinity and ensured the ongoing rotation of ICAO Annex 13 civilian investigators as observers on board.
At the same time other Malaysian Air Force officers took custody of MH370 debris items stored at the Ministry of Transport in Malaysia. Azharuddin Rahman ordered the police to return the MH370 debris items to the Ministry. Azharuddin Rahman asserted his authority then, but in July 2018 he was blamed for ATC failings concerning MH370 and resigned as Chairman of the DCA.
There is already convincing evidence of it being a pilot suicide. The disappearance occurred right after Zaharie acknowledged the handoff between Malaysian and Vietnamese airspace. The aircraft was supposed to contact the other controller within a minute. That never happened.
Years ago, I read an article by someone who did close analysis of the ATC recordings. They mentioned that shortly before the handoff, Zaharie made an altitude call-out that he didn’t need to, which seemed odd. One person in the comments section of the article said that they thought that with that call-out Zaharie was fishing for the handoff. The author of the article said that it was a bit early to do that, but that that was a very likely possibility. Zaharie was probably trying to get the handoff to occur as early as possible, to maximize the amount of time he had to fly off course without suspicion.
@All,
Armada 7806 is underway and passing through the Sunda Strait as of 22nd January 2025 06:20 UTC and is bound for Mauritius, where it is expected to arrive in 12 days time on 3rd February 2025:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gv1rw7cdua6g1ywzdf52l/Armada-7806-Vessel-Finder-22JAN2025-0620-UTC.png?rlkey=spmvmb3185aesxgfvzzwct3og&dl=0
Armada 7808 has arrived in Cape Town, South Africa.
The moment of truth will be later today when its direction becomes clear.
I hope Bernard Lagan is also watching, because if The Times picks up on this and starts asking whether the search is off, then the rest of the mainstream media will likely follow suit.
@Duncan,
Now that Armada 7806 has transited the Sunda Strait heading for Mauritius (the same as 7804 and 7808) why do you think that OI staggered the departures of 04, 08 and now 06, they way they did ?
@All,
Armada 7806 is underway in the Indian Ocean as of 22nd January 2025 14:00 UTC at 9.0 knots and on a course of 249°T for Mauritius. The weather is mixed, 28°C (82°F), showers, moderate breeze and 1.7m (5.9 feet) wave height. It is expected to arrive in Port Louis in 12 days time on 3rd February 2025:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sln16s1khcd8tmp3wub82/Armada-7806-Vessel-Finder-22JAN2025-1400-UTC.png?rlkey=kgc99t13tv9yozn2f68qnpvor&dl=0
I don’t have a subscription to either Vesselfinder.com or Marinetraffic.com, so I have no knowledge of 78 06’s track after it cleared the Sunda Strait. I’ll take your word for it that the track (as opposed to the stated destination) is still towards Mauritius rather than anywhere on the 7th arc.
As for the staggered departures, I have no idea. Perhaps they’re heading for three different jobs whose contracts were signed at three different times?
But I have a funny feeling that you have a theory…
@Duncan
I have no idea what OI is thinking (I wish I did).
I thought from your rather deliberate reference to Mr Bernard Lagan above (I had to do some googling on the guy) indicated that perhaps you might have some prior OI involvement, and thus possibly some current ‘insights’?
I have no idea how OI plan their transit voyages between contracts, but obviously, ships are slow, fuel consumption (and thus replenishment) is the major “logistics issue” governing tracks between ports and the time frames involved.
The point I was making (perhaps somewhat obliquely) was simply this.
The staggered departures, (all going to the ATLANTIC Ocean), seemed to indicate to me that OI has determined that searching for MH370 this season was no longer a realistic job prospect, even if a contract was signed now. The “window of opportunity” has “effectively” closed for this season, and as distressing as it is, it is what it is.
Therefore, since nobody would expect OI to leave valuable ships sitting idle in a foreign port for 9 months plus waiting for next season (and the contract that never comes) it therefore seems perfectly logical to me that OI would accept other jobs for their valuable fleet.
It is now quite clear and undeniable to everybody that Malaysia has quite deliberately (and successfully) “run the clock down”, to buy one more year of no searching, so it is high time the MSM got their fingers out, and called a spade a spade.
Perhaps you should give Bernard a “heads up” yourself ?
@ventus45
No, I have no past or present connection with OI and no inside information unfortunately. I also confirm that I’m not Duncan Steel.
The reference to Bernard Lagan and The Times was simply because his was the most recent MSM piece that I’m aware of to introduce new material, which @Richard posted above:
https://www.mh370search.com/2024/05/05/new-search/comment-page-3/#comment-3198
I agree with your assessment that this search season is probably written off – unless 78 06 turns to port very soon, or 78 08 starts heading back across the Indian Ocean.
Sooner or later the Malaysians are going to have to explain why.
@Duncan,
Duncan my good fellow, you have me intrigued.
Your previous posts made me think, that since you seemed very confident that I was wrong in my assessments (agree to disagree), combined with being an apparent “newcomer” to the MH370 saga, you could only hold that view so strongly and apparently confidently if you “knew something” (perhaps juicy !).
The challenge to “wait and see” which one of us was right was almost a direct confirmation of the fact that you were cooking the scrambled eggs for subsequently adorning my face (as you typed).
Now you seem to be back-pedaling.
Would you like to declare your hand ?
I have a straight flush.
@ventus45, my good fellow, I’m neither “very confident that you are wrong” nor “back-pedaling”.
Since Loke’s 20 December press conference my view has been (and remains) that it’s more likely than not that a contract will eventually be signed – for the simple reason that calling that press conference would have been a crazy thing to have done if the ultimate objective was not to have a search. I don’t believe the Malaysians are crazy.
Loke said at the press conference that the contract was “expected to be finalised in early 2025”, and by any reasonable definition we’re still in early 2025, and will be for some time.
So, like I said, we need to wait and see – until one or both of the parties announce that they have either signed a contract, or been unable to agree on the terms.
If it’s the latter I will happily concede that you were right, but at the moment all I will concede is that an extensive search this season now looks unlikely – although there’s still plenty of time to search the 15,000km² referred to in the press conference.