Investigators knew underwater signals invalid, yet they chose to waste 8 weeks investigating them

The MH370 Search Areas Report dated June 26, 2014 proves the fact that the Investigators knew the underwater signals detected by Ocean Shield were invalid, yet they chose to waste 8 weeks investigating them.

It is also a fact that prior to the detection of those underwater signals, the Investigators leading the search for MH370 already knew Inmarsat's "hotspot" location for MH370. 

From the June 26 report:

The flight recorders fitted to 9M-MRO were equipped with Dukane DK100 underwater acoustic beacons that activate on immersion in salt or fresh water. The beacons had the following characteristics:
- Operating frequency: 37.5 ± 1 kHz
- Pulse Length: 10 ms
- Repetition rate: 1 pulse per second
- Operating life following immersion: minimum 30 days

The ADV-OS deployed the first towfish on 4 April 2014. The first towfish exhibited acoustic noise and was required to be changed out with the second towfish. The second towfish was deployed on 5 April 2014 and shortly after, whilst descending, detected an acoustic signal at a frequency of approximately 33 kHz. Further detections were made on 5 April 2014 and on 8 April; however, none were able to be repeated when following an opposing track. The first towfish was redeployed with no detections.

A review of the Ocean Shield acoustic signals was undertaken independently by various specialists. The analyses determined that the signals recorded were not consistent with the nominal performance standards of the Dukane DK100 underwater acoustic beacon. The analyses also noted that whilst unlikely, the acoustic signals could be consistent with a damaged ULB. However, it was decided that that an ocean floor sonar search should be performed to fully investigate the detections.

Inmarsat's "hotspot" location known prior to detection of underwater pings (BBC Horizon programme)

Chris Ashton, Inmarsat

Chris Moore, Phoenix International

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The BBC Two's Horizon programme "Where is Flight MH370?" revealed the fact that prior to the Ocean Shield detecting any underwater pings, the Investigators leading the search for MH370 already knew Inmarsat's "hotspot" location for MH370, and Inmarsat themselves expected Ocean Shield to go to that hotspot location to listen for pings from MH370's black boxes.

But that isn't what happened.

Instead, Ocean Shield spent 2 months searching an area where they had detected four underwater signals that were outside of the specifications of a black box Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB).

The programme also documented the fact that the experts on the Ocean Shield were aware that false detections were possible, because it had happened with HMS Echo.

Yet the Investigators expect everyone to believe that they didn't realize the four underwater signals detected by Ocean Shield weren't valid until 8 weeks later.

That is implausible.

The Investigators had absolute confidence in Inmarsat's analysis, so when the team detected signals that weren't in Inmarsat's "hotspot" location, why wouldn't they verify them?

The experts onboard Ocean Shield knew HMS Echo had detected an invalid signal, so for that reason alone, why wouldn't they verify the signals they detected?

And despite Chris Moore, of Phoenix International, stating during the programme that they did verify the signals, the Investigators didn't announce that the signals weren't valid until 8 weeks later.


The following is my transcript of statements made by Chris Ashton of Inmarsat, and Chris Moore of Phoenix International, during the BBC Two's Horizon programme "Where is Flight MH370?" which aired on June 17, 2014. The youtube video for the programme is here.

Starting at 43:43 Chris Ashton of Inmarsat said, "We can identify a path that matches exactly with all those frequency measurements and with the timing measurements and lands on the final arc at a particular location, which then gives us a sort of a hotspot area on the final arc where we believe the most likely area is."

Starting at 45:01 Chris Moore, of Phoenix International, who had been on Ocean Shield, said, "HMS Echo believed they had detected a 37 and a half kilohertz pulse in the water so we headed to that area and came up with a search plan."

Starting at 47:28 Chris Moore said, "During that survey leg HMS Echo was able to deduce that the 37 and a half kilohertz pings they were hearing were, uh, not valid."

Starting at 47:46 Chris Moore said, "At that point we regrouped and went back to our best known last position, being the, uh, eight minute arc, and our intention was to work our way south. South was determined to have a higher probability, a more probable, uh, flight path."

Note: The "eight minute arc" refers to time 00:19 UTC, when MH370 sent a Log-on message to the satellite/ground station, the satellite/ground station sent several messages back to MH370, and then MH370 sent an Acknowledge back to the satellite/ground station.

Starting at 48:33 Chris Moore said, "It's theorized to have been that the plane was going down. Low on fuel. It did a roll. When the plane rolled the fuel then uh the engine was able to restart and part of the startup sequence was initializing this, this handshake with the Inmarsat. And it was a incomplete handshake. So we're working on the premise that perhaps this last handshake is where the plane was in its final stages."

Starting at 55:25 Chris Moore said, "And we had a detection. Big moment. Uh, are you sure that's what we heard? Are you sure that's what we're, is it not us? Uh, you know. It was elation and panic, and self doubt. Um, wonderment to let's get busy and find this thing. Let's track it down."

Starting at 56:15 Chris Ashton said, "My thoughts were they were probably going to traverse down the final arc to go over our hotspot area. But of course they, they found their, their ping detection fairly early on."

Starting at 56:35 Chris Moore said, "The decision was made, uh, we had enough detections, and it was time to shift over to the AUV ops."

Starting at 57:39 Chris Aston said, "It was by no means, um, an unrealistic location but it was further to the north east than our area of highest probability."

Chris Moore says Ocean Shield team verified underwater pings (BBC Horizon programme)

Hover over images to open them in a larger view.

I captured screen images from BBC Two's Horizon programme "Where is Flight MH370?" that show Chris Moore, of Phoenix International, who stated the following, starting at approximately 55:25 into the video:

Chris Moore:
"And we had a detection. Big moment. Uh, are you sure that's what we heard? Are you sure that's what we're, is it not us? Uh, you know. It was elation and panic, and self doubt. Um, wonderment to let's get busy and find this thing. Let's track it down."

Clearly, based on his statements, the Ocean Shield team verified the signal they detected, to make sure it was not them, and to make sure that it was within the specifications for a Black Box Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB). Clearly they did not simply assume the signal was valid.

Yet as we know, none of the four underwater signals they detected were valid, and they were not within the specifications for a ULB.

So if they verified the underwater signals when they first detected them, which he stated that they did, can one conclude that they ignored the fact that they weren't valid?

What other conclusion can one draw, when the Horizon programme described the team as follows, starting at approximately 44:19 into the video:

At the forefront of the search, was the Ocean Shield. A six and a half thousand ton Australian Navy support vessel, carrying an elite team of deep ocean salvage experts.

The  Youtube video for the programme is here. (Let's see how long it remains there, before the BBC demands its removal.)