Search for MH370 ends

PUTRAJAYA: Ocean Infinity, the United States-based technology company specialising in collecting high resolution seabed data, today confirmed that its search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has come to an end.
Ocean Infinity in a statement today said the company searched and collected high quality data from over 112,000km² of ocean floor, successfully overcoming both challenging conditions and terrain.
"The total area covered in a little over three months of operational days is in far excess of the initial 25,000 km sq target and almost the same area as the previous searched achieved in two and a half years," it added.
Ocean Infinity's chief executive officer, Oliver Plunkett extended the thoughts of everyone at Ocean Infinity to the families of those who have lost loved ones on MH370.
"Part of our motivation for renewing the search was to try to provide some answers to those affected. It is therefore with a heavy heart that we end our current search without having achieved that aim," Plunkett said.
He said Ocean Infinity is most grateful to the government of Malaysia for entertaining its offer and affording the company an opportunity to recommence the search.
The commitment that the new government in Malaysia has made to prioritising finding MH370 was very good to hear, added Plunkett.
"Whilst clearly the outcome so far is extremely disappointing, as a company, we are truly proud of what we have achieved both in terms of the quality of data we've produced and the speed with which we covered such a vast area. There simply has not been a sub-sea search on this scale carried out as efficiently or as effectively ever before," he added.
He also said Ocean Infinity sincerely hoped that the company will be able to again offer its services in search of MH370 in future.
Ocean Infinity also thanked the team onboard Seabed Constructor who had worked tirelessly and all the many companies, organisations and individuals whose support, guidance and advice were invaluable.
"Also the staff at Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) whose dedication to finding the plane has been unwaveringly deserve our particular gratitude, said Plunkett.
Flight MH370 with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board vanished while on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.
In January this year, Malaysia signed an agreement with Ocean Infinity to begin a new search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
The priority search area in the southern Indian Ocean was based on 'no cure, no fee,' which meant that payment would only be made when the debris of the missing jetliner was found and confirmed by a third party. — Bernama