HMAS Yarra and HMAS Norman Locate Lost Containers of MV Pacific Adventurer

The Royal Australian Navy’s Huon Class Mine Hunters HMAS Yarra (M 87), HMAS Norman (M 84) have located, identified and marked the position of 24 of the 31 containers (images on the right) lost by MV Pacific Adventurer at sea on March 11, during Cyclone Hamish off Cape Moreton.

Some of the interesting features of this container hunting are:

In bad weather conditions, HMAS Yarra and HMAS Norman were searching for these lost containers by using Variable Depth Sonar since March 18 in the vicinity of the datum point provided by the Master of MV Pacific Adventurer.
The sonar can detect objects at depths of over 100 metres with detection ranges in excess of 1,000 metres ahead of the ship.
On March 25,
- HMAS Yarra successfully identified 22 containers at a depth of 120 metres.
- The containers are lying on the seabed in groups of two and three, and are in varying states of condition.
On March 26, HMAS Norman located two more containers on the seabed in very bad shape.
Images and video footages of the containers were taken by using Bofors Underwater Systems Double Eagle Mine Disposal Vehicles.
Mine Disposal Vehicles are
- Equipped with a searchlight, closed-circuit low light television camera and an on-board close range identification sonar.
- Commands are relayed via a fibre optic link inside the vehicle’s tether, which also relays sensor images for display on the ship’s multifunction console in the operations room.
Both the ships are continuing their search for the remaining missing containers.