CSSC’s Advanced Facilities Performed Well in the Rescue of Missing Malaysia Airline

On March 8th, 2014, when Malaysia airline MH370 lost connection with the terminal, China sent out a group of rescue ships at once, including Mianyang, Jinggangshang, Kunshan and Haixun31, to search on the suspected missing site. Experts viewed that rescue ships and sonar that are not only designed by ourselves but also can probe both on and under water would play an important role in searching and rescuing task.

Experts in China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) institution said, on one hand, ships sent out are high quality. All the ships are built by ourselves and well equipped with sonar, optoelectronic system and marine search radar, which can detect and identify both floaters and suspected objects underwater. Furthermore, most of ships have the capability on carrying helicopters, which can extend rescue scope to air. On other hand, some devices installed on ships and helicopters, such as radars, infrared photoelectric devices, high precise imaging sonar and autonomous underwater vehicles, will make great contributions to the rescue. He also suggested that China government should increase the support of marine equipment research and development. China should consider building airports and shipyards on islands located in Nanhai as bases that can deal with emergencies. If the suggestions can be taken, China’s capability on handling marine rescues and emergencies will be enhanced.

Many of the involved ships are built by CSSC Huanpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company, an affiliated company of CSSC. A expert in this company made introductions to related rescue devices on ships and analyzed the proper rescue range and suggested operation methods. He said radars, infrared photoelectric devices and sonar can detect and research objects underwater. Ships are generally designed with a platform for helicopters taking off and landing on and they also have hangars, which can enlarge the scope of searching and rescuing. The rescue ships are equipped with diving saving facilities, such as light diving apparatus, diving equipment with portable tubes, open diving bells and decompression chamber systems. The efficiency of rescue task can be increased.

Sonar designed by Haiying Enterprise Group, an affiliate of CSSC, can be found on the rescue ships. It will be helpful in the rescue task. Haiying is a key enterprise in domestic sonar development companies. Its technologies of sonar, echo sounders and hydroboxs lead at home. According to the Vice Chief Engineer ZHANG Dingfu, sonar, likes a radar used in water, is a device using sound to detect the position and distance of an object. It releases sound pulses in water at first. The sound pulses will return to it when they encounter obstacles. Sonar can collect them and draw a phonogram. We can use the phonogram to identify the distance, position and outline of an object. A miniature sonar can work within 600m to 1000m. A large on can reach several kilometers. He said, if the rescue area can be identified, sonar will definitely find the object. Sonar is a essential device in the black box searching task.