PETALING JAYA: The renewed search for MH370 is not merely another attempt to locate the missing aircraft, but it is also a high-stakes test of the latest underwater technology.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Institute of Oceanography and Environment director Prof Dr Mohd Fadzil Mohd Akhir said the operation, led by Ocean Infinity, could mark the third major effort to uncover the fate of the unfortunate plane.
“Ocean Infinity is one of the world’s leading companies specialising in underwater search and ocean exploration. They are deploying their latest technology, which accelerates deep-sea searches that previously took much longer.
“Searching underwater objects on the seabed, especially in very deep areas, is extremely difficult. The ocean is vast, incredibly deep and conditions are complex. Updating technology allows them to tackle these challenges more effectively.”
He added that the operation also doubles as a showcase of Ocean Infinity’s capabilities.
“This may serve as a marketing strategy to demonstrate that Ocean Infinity is a leading company in this technology and fully capable of such complex operations.”
Mohd Fadzil said the renewed search could be driven by fresh leads, particularly from satellite data.
“There are a few important pieces of information that can be extracted from satellites that may not have been available before.
“With this data, teams can analyse datasets and target specific locations that might yield fresh insights.”
On the role of ocean modelling, he noted its importance has waned.
“Ocean models were very useful in the early years, around 2014 to 2015 but teams now rely more on satellite data, which can capture acoustic and environmental signals revealing previously unseen clues.”
He also highlighted the value of biological analysis from recovered debris.
“When the plane’s flaperon (a specialised type of aircraft flight control surface that combine aspects of both flaps and ailerons which responds to roll commands) was found after nearly two years, marine organisms were stuck on it.
“Studying these can indicate whether the species come from a certain area, providing additional clues.”
Despite technological advances, Mohd Fadzil stressed that searching the deep ocean remains highly challenging.
“One difficulty is scanning very deep areas with rugged terrain. Current equipment must move slowly when towed for scanning. But with Ocean Infinity’s new technology, the process can likely be sped up. Essentially, this operation tests and refines their latest tools.”
Mohd Fadzil said interpreting seabed data presents another hurdle.
“It’s not like seeing an actual image. What they get from the seabed is a signal, which is processed to show the spike or shape of the seabed. From that, they try to determine whether features are natural or man-made.
“Aircraft are large, so they’re unlikely to be missed, but they could sit between seamounts or rugged terrain, which makes interpreting the data challenging.”
He added that environmental factors further complicate the search.
“If you go south in the search area, conditions can be rough, with high swells making the ship and equipment’s work more difficult.”
Above all, Mohd Fadzil stressed that pinpointing the correct search area is critical.
“There are many aspects to consider, but the most important is whether you are looking in the right place.
“That is what this operation is trying to determine. Most experts believe there may be new information pointing to a location we did not know before – whether it proves correct or not.”