Underwater search launched by Coastguard
C Shivakumar
Chennai:
The Search and Rescue Model of Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, will be put to test for the
first time in locating Indian Coastguard’s Dornier and its three crew.
The model, which was in semi-operational mode, has already given the
first advisory based on a set of mathematical calculations of the
current and wind in the ocean.
Head of Information Services, Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS) Balakrishnan Nair told Express that that there is a 35 to
40 per cent probability on locating the aircraft and crew using the
model.
“This saves time. We tried it on experimental stages during the
Cyclone Phallin to help the Coast guard,” said Nair.
“This would be the first major challenge for the model,” he said.
Interestingly, the directions to conduct the search is being passed
from the Hyderabad office to Coast Guard headquarters which is later
relayed to the search and rescue operations team.
“We are positive that the aircraft and the crew could be located,’ he said.
As nearly four days have passed with hardly any clue over the location
of the missing aircraft or the crew, Coastguard is now banking on
scientific institutions as well as Indian Navy’s submarine and
Hydrographic survey vessel INS Sandhayak.
The firm determination to locate the crew and aircraft has not faded
as Inspector General SP Sharma, Commander, Indian Coast Guard (East)
is opening every channel to find the whereabout of his three men who
went missing along with the aircraft on the night of June 8.
The underwater operations to trace the aircraft was launched on Friday
as INS Sandhayak equipped with sonar joined the search and rescue
team.
The vessel will be using its underwater detection equipment to detect
any transmission for the sonar locator beacon of the aircraft.
The Indian Navy submarine INS Sindhudhwaj would also boost the
underwater search when it would join the search and rescue operation
on Friday night.
Meanwhile, C Sylendra Babu, additional director general of police,
Coastal Security Group told Express that CSG has been conducting
searches on uninhabited areas of Point Calimere, which has a black
buck sanctuary as well as River Kollidam. “Our paramotors are
conducting the aerial search” he said. Interestingly, CSG has also
brought in devices to track the radio emissions from the aircraft,
Babu said.
Meanwhile, Coastguard is seeking the assistance of the National Remote
Sensing Agency (NRSA). “We are seeking analysis of the satellite
imagery of the area, for possible location of the aircraft,” the
Indian Coastguard said.
Even National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai has also
been approached for oceanographic analyses of the area around the
datum and feasibility of deploying their research vessel ‘Sagar Nidhi’
for augmenting the subsurface search.
Meanwhile, a team from Organisatio for Marine Conservation Awareness
and Research (Omcar) Foundation in Thanjavur has embarked on-board a
Coast Guard ship for undertaking underwater photography and acoustic
survey.
Current status of Search and Rescue Operation
NIOT research vessel ORV Sagar Nidhi
How it can help: It has special sensors and such devices could operate
at sub-ocean surfaces
Status: Under consideration
Indian Navy submarine Sindhudhwaj
How it can help: The submarine can pick up signals from Dornier’s
Sonar Locating Beacon. The aircraft can transmit signals upto 30 days
if under water.
Status: The Submarine will join the operation late on Friday
Indian Navy Survey Ship Sandhayak
How it can help: The sonar ship will send signals deep into water and it
could detect presence of objects if any.
Status: Included on Friday
ISRO (Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network through satellite-Indian
Mission Control Centre)
How it can help: It picks up signal from the Emergency Locating
Transmitter (ELT) in the aircraft and points out the exact location of
missing aircraft.
Status: It failed to pick up the signal
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
How it can help: Provides dvisory based on a set of mathematical
calculations of the current and wind in the ocean.
Status: Helping the Coastguard by providing locations based on
calculations. Two advisories have been given
National Remote Sensing Agency
How it can help: To provide analysis of the satellite
imagery of the area, for possible location of the aircraft
Status: Coastguard has sought help
Organisation for Marine Conservation Awareness
and Research (Omcar) Foundation
How it can help: The team will undertake underwater photography and
acoustic survey.
Status: Joined the operation
Coastal Security Group Paramotors:
How it will help: Conduct searches on uninhabited areas of Point
Calimere densely populated by mangroves as well as River Kollidam
Status: Under operation
No comments:
Post a Comment