02-07-2016, 12:30 PM
I want to add Don Thomson's reply from AQON thread on Reddit
"[–]guardeddon 6 points 12 hours ago
I agree, technically, it does all make sense. The technical evaluation appears sound. Fugro & team Phoenix International ran a close race with ATSB.
Recall that Hishammuddin announced, on 6th July 2014 - during ATSB's bid evaluation period, that he was deploying the assets described by team Phoenix International's bid to ATSB. Normally, in bid/contracting scenarios such as this (& I have experience) no-one makes any direct, public communications concerning the parties involved. As events transpired Malaysia only contracted half of what Phoenix International proposed to ATSB. On 25th July 2014, the search fleet looked like a full 'A' team and 'B' team deployment with 4-6 ships but after Malaysia's intentions became clear ATSB-Fugro's resources were augmented from Malaysia by only 1 ProSAS towfish & ship.
More information in ATSB's progress updates would be a benefit. The structure of the contract including progress based payments may be hindering more detailed updates.
Updates should help understand exactly how much of the search area is complete including categorising the progress towards to final goal. Presumably the search area is gridded for purposes of tracking, the updates might include, for example, status of the 4 levels of analysis (staff located onboard, Perth, Canberra, USA) for each grid zone, where areas require AUV scans or revisits, and a map of the grid zone. The cumulative ship tow tracks are not an indication of seabed scan complete.
It's becoming evident that the search area, south of Broken ridge, is not side-scan sonar friendly abyssal plain. Information to that effect includes:
•Fugro/Paul Kennedy's WA-SSSI presentation;
•ATSB's volcano bathymetry profile;
•Abstract for forthcoming presentation[1].
The ATSB's job is managing the search, they need to evidence their contractors' results.
[1] ...the ocean floor to the south [of Broken Ridge] is less smooth and mainly reflects the younger spreading seafloor. Volcanism associated with the spreading formed shield-like volcanoes (up to 1500 m high and 15 km diameter) on the southern margin of Diamantina Trench. Further south, fracture zones and rift valleys, up to 900 m deep and 8 km wide, cut across spreading ridges of 200 m elevation and >70 km in length. Volcanoes and fluid escape features, including pockmarks and mud volcanoes, are also common throughout the southern area, mainly in the vicinity of fracture zones."
LabratSR
"[–]guardeddon 6 points 12 hours ago
I agree, technically, it does all make sense. The technical evaluation appears sound. Fugro & team Phoenix International ran a close race with ATSB.
Recall that Hishammuddin announced, on 6th July 2014 - during ATSB's bid evaluation period, that he was deploying the assets described by team Phoenix International's bid to ATSB. Normally, in bid/contracting scenarios such as this (& I have experience) no-one makes any direct, public communications concerning the parties involved. As events transpired Malaysia only contracted half of what Phoenix International proposed to ATSB. On 25th July 2014, the search fleet looked like a full 'A' team and 'B' team deployment with 4-6 ships but after Malaysia's intentions became clear ATSB-Fugro's resources were augmented from Malaysia by only 1 ProSAS towfish & ship.
More information in ATSB's progress updates would be a benefit. The structure of the contract including progress based payments may be hindering more detailed updates.
Updates should help understand exactly how much of the search area is complete including categorising the progress towards to final goal. Presumably the search area is gridded for purposes of tracking, the updates might include, for example, status of the 4 levels of analysis (staff located onboard, Perth, Canberra, USA) for each grid zone, where areas require AUV scans or revisits, and a map of the grid zone. The cumulative ship tow tracks are not an indication of seabed scan complete.
It's becoming evident that the search area, south of Broken ridge, is not side-scan sonar friendly abyssal plain. Information to that effect includes:
•Fugro/Paul Kennedy's WA-SSSI presentation;
•ATSB's volcano bathymetry profile;
•Abstract for forthcoming presentation[1].
The ATSB's job is managing the search, they need to evidence their contractors' results.
[1] ...the ocean floor to the south [of Broken Ridge] is less smooth and mainly reflects the younger spreading seafloor. Volcanism associated with the spreading formed shield-like volcanoes (up to 1500 m high and 15 km diameter) on the southern margin of Diamantina Trench. Further south, fracture zones and rift valleys, up to 900 m deep and 8 km wide, cut across spreading ridges of 200 m elevation and >70 km in length. Volcanoes and fluid escape features, including pockmarks and mud volcanoes, are also common throughout the southern area, mainly in the vicinity of fracture zones."
LabratSR