2023-06-22 10:43:30
The Victor 6000 underwater robot, sent by the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea, should arrive around 8 p.m. this Wednesday at the research site, aboard L’Atalante. IFREMER
FOCUS– The French robot from Ifremer, capable of diving to 6000 meters, should arrive around 8 p.m. this Wednesday at the research site, aboard L’Atalante.
Search operations are still continuing this Wednesday to find the submarine Titan , missing since Sunday June 18 off the North American coast, near the island of Newfoundland. The tourist submersible ship was going as close as possible to the wreck of the Titanicwith five people on board, including a Frenchman, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a specialist in the transatlantic liner that ran aground in 1912.
Search operations are activated and have started a race against time to find the small submersible. France, the United States, Canada, the Bahamas and Norway have deployed considerable resources, including five ships, planes and robots.
France: Victor 6000 robot and ship Atalanta
France diverted urgently Atalantaa research vessel from the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer), then on mission and which should arrive this Wednesday evening around 8 p.m.
The Atalante, a ship of the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea, with the Victor 6000 underwater robot on board, should arrive at the research site on June 21, 2023. STEPHANE LESBATS – IFREMER /REUTERS
The boat carries the long-awaited Victor 6000 underwater robot. Modernized several times since her first launch in 1999, the “flagship of the submarine intervention» is a remotely operated vehicle, which can intervene up to 6000 meters deep thanks to a cable connected to the surface, explains Ifremerwhich is sufficient to find the Titan which could be located up to about 4000 meters. The machine has two arms that can carry 100 kg each. Nine people are needed for its operation.
The Victor 6000 underwater robot, sent by the French Research Institute for the exploitation of the sea aboard L’Atalante. OLIVIER DUGORNAY – IFREMER / REUTERS
United States: planes Hercules
The Americans deployed three Lockheed C-130 planes on Monday. Hercules around the Polar Princethe vessel from which the Titan. The aircraft established visual and radar reconnaissance on the surface of the water.
Canada: two ships and Orion and Poseidon planes
The Canadians also dispatched dedicated Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft on Monday, which dropped sonar-equipped buoys for reconnaissance below the ocean’s surface. A Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft, another aircraft from “Patmarcapable of detecting underwater objects, was also deployed and detected the sounds of «cognements» under water.
A US Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft (illustrative image) Photographer: Trevor Hannant
The Coast Guard dispatched two ships on Wednesday. I’Atlantic Merlin with on board an underwater robot and the John Cabot for side-scan sound recognition, which is very accurate.
Bahamas: ship Deep Energy
The Bahamian Research Vessel Deep Energy arrived at the scene on Tuesday. Originally an installer of oil and gas pipelines on the seabed, the boat allowed robots to be dropped onto the ocean floor.
The Bahamian ship Deep Energy in the search area for the submersible Titan, left to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, near the North American coast, in the Atlantic Ocean, June 20, 2023 HANDOUT / AFP
Norway: ship Skandi Vinland
The Norwegian company DOF, present in the oil industry, also sent on Wednesday the Skandi Vinlanda multipurpose vessel on the search grounds of the Titan.
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