Ocean Infinity, the geophysical seabed data company, is to relaunch the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
The Houston-based company has taken on the contract from the Malaysian government on a “no-cure, no-fee” basis.
Malaysian media reports say the company will be paid between $20m and $70m depending on how quickly it finds the missing aircraft.
The airliner disappeared in March 2014 while en route from Malaysia to Beijing, with 230 passengers and crew aboard.
Malaysia, China and Australia ended an unsuccessful hunt for the aircraft in January 2017 at an estimated cost of AUD 200m ($158.7m).
Ocean Infinity said its search will focus initially on the zone identified by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
Its vessel, the Seabed Constructor (built 2014), is now said to be close to the search area. The project is expected to last for 90 days.
Ocean Infinity said it will “take on the economic risk of the renewed search, only receiving payment if the aircraft wreckage is located”.
Ocean Infinity says it can use up to eight Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), capable of operating in water depths from five to 6,000 meters.
“The AUVs are free flying, which means they will not be tethered to the offshore vessel during operations,” it said.
“The ability to operate untethered independent missions allows the AUVs to go deeper and collect higher quality data, making this technology ideal for the search.”
Ocean Infinity chief executive Oliver Plunkett commented: “Whilst there can be no guarantees of locating the aircraft, we believe our system of multiple autonomous vehicles working simultaneously is well suited to the task at hand.”
The Seabed Constructor (ex-Olympic Athene) was chartered from Swire Seabed in December 2016 in a six-year charter.
