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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 30/12/2025

Armada 86 05 has stopped. Next up launch AUVs, in turn, and guide each to the seafloor.

Predicted track of A86 05 vs actual track (3NM difference)

mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 30/12/2025

Pulling that together with the Ocean Infinity published search areas (red boundaries), IG-Ulich priority area (white), final AUV sorties of 28th Mar (yellow) & today's A86 05 track. I'd previously assumed restart point to be closer to 'Recovery 28T12:17' whereas grey shaded area is unsearched.

Map/chart pulling together features related to the search:
the Ocean Infinity published search areas (red boundaries),
the IG-Ulich priority area (white),
final AUV sorties of 28th Mar 2025 (yellow)
& today's A86 05 track towards the search area.
I'd previously assumed restart point to be closer to label 'Recovery 28T12:17' whereas grey shaded area is unsearched.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 30/12/2025

Armada 86 05 has 5½ hrs to run, at present speed, before reaching the #MH370 search area where the first of its AUVs will be launched. Estimated end of passage amended 17NM south of previous. (white dotted path = actual vessel track, dashed path = projected track to end of passage)

Present and projected positions match closely at 1500hrs, 54NM to run at 10kts. ETA at first AUV launch position at approx 2030hrs (UTC) this evening 30th.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 30/12/2025

This second image depicts the present vessel trajectory (yellow), the planned seafloor search areas (red) & IG-Ulich priority search area (white) straddling the 7th arc line-of-position (purple).

This second image depicts features within a 200km radius, centred around coordinates S 34.74º E 93.7º.
The present vessel trajectory (yellow) shows that the vessel will intercept the southern half of the the planned seafloor search areas (red).
The IG-Ulich priority search area is depicted (white) straddling the 7th arc line-of-position (purple).
In the previous phase of search AUVs covered part of the IG-Ulich area and part of the south-east side 'saddle'.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 30/12/2025

Armada 86 05 is near to completing its transit to the #MH370 search area. The movie shows my putative, estimated, track to the psoition where the final AUV recovery took place on Mar 28th. The actual vessel track is slightly to south The weather forecast shows good conditions for AUV operations.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 28/12/2025

Progress towards #MH370 search. Armada 86 05 conducted AUV operations over the ATSB's seafloor test targets (in vicinity of S32.21º E114.70º, 110km west of Fremantle) & the vessel has established its transit to the search area. ETA is 1400UTC, 30th Dec.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 24/12/2025

Late Christmas Eve (UTC) time, update on Armada 86 05 final preparations before heading to the #MH370 7th arc search site. At present, the vessel is over ATSB's seafloor test target site, presumably AUVs are being checked out at this 'target range'. ⬇️

Armada 86 05 vessel position relative to Perth-Fremantle on the WA coast. A86 05 set out from indicated 'WP1', just north of Rottnest Island, then headed southwest to the ATSB's seafloor test target 'range'. Here the ATSB positioned a set of targets on the seafloor for the purpose of confirming equipment function before Fugro & 'Team Phoenix' vessels, departing Fremantle, made the transit to the search area.

Image acquired by 'Team Phoenix' on 2014-10-27 using the towed ProSAS-60 synthetic aperture sonar system. The image depicts the port & starboard 'swaths' imaged by the ProSAS-60 (the gap between is filled using the towed system's short range multibeam echo sounder, not shown). Five separate targets, placed on the seafloor, can be discerned.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 24/12/2025

ROVs disguised as 10ft refrigeration CCUs. #Sarcasm

A 10ft refrigerated CCU (cargo container unit, DNV certified offshore design) viewed from compressor side.

Two 10ft refrigerated CCUs temporarily deployed on an offshore vessel. Fixed to deck skidding plates and lashed down.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 22/12/2025

Armada 86 05 approaches Fremantle, my putative plan is slightly ahead of actual progress to Inner Pilot Boarding Ground, expected 15:00hrs AWST, Tues 23rd. Fremantle Port movements information shows departure 20:30hrs AWST to #MH370 search area. Predicted route to search area (detail in alt text).

Simple, direct route for Armada 86 05 from Fremantle, West Australia, to the search area (return to final position of 2025-03-28).
Departing Fremantle 2025-12-24T0430UTC.
Prevailing weather shown for 2025-12-25T1230UTC, waves expected to exceed 2m during 25th-26th, peaking around -26T0000Z at 3.5m following a peak of prevailing wind at 24kts. Waves and wind to diminish during remainder of voyage.
Estimated arrival, 2025-12-28T2030UTC.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 21/12/2025

Armada 86 05 turned slightly to east off Dirk Hartog Island, to pass the Houtman Albrohos Island archipelago. Weather is pushing 3.5m waves & a 25kt wind, gusting 35kts, against the vessel, impeding progress to Fremantle. Fremantle 'Voyager' PMS shows arrival approx 13:00hrs AWST.

Present position of Armada 86 05 off the Western Australia coastline, between Dirk Hartog Is and the Houtman Albrolhos Islands. Waves and wind resisting the vessel's progress to Fremantle where arrival is expected 2025-12-23 apprx 1300hrs AWST. The shaded overlay layer depicts wind strength.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 20/12/2025

Armada 86 05's voyage continues to Fremantle for replenishment during a quick turnaround & then transit to the #MH370 search area. Perth arrival may be expected 2200hr local time, 22nd Dec. Chart shows present position vs my own putative passage plan. Wind, wave, & swell conditions also shown.

Present position at 1000hrs 2025-12-20 vs putative passage plan for Armada 86 05 (informed by past position, average speed, and known destination). This webapp provides excellent reporting of forecast weather.
The vessel is approaching a latitude offshore the most westerly point of mainland Australia, Steep Point, and Dirk Hartog Island. It's then expected to amend course to follow the WA coast past Geraldton towards Perth-Fremantle.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 15/12/2025

Ocean Infinity published a brief fleet update video earlier today, below is a still from the video showing A78 06 earlier this year as it was mobilised to conduct the #MH370 search. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyKD...

View of Armada 78 06 in open sea mobilised with three AUVs in containerised 'garages' fixed on the vessel's transom. Recovery of one AUV on the 'stinger' is underway.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 15/12/2025

Armada 86 05 has made a quick turnaround at Benoa port. It's now headed out into open sea, rounding the southern tip of Bali to east. There's a cyclonic weather system offshore moving east, a track to east then south may be intentional to take advantage of winds (possibly...). #MH370

Track of Armada 86 05, departed from Benoa port & proceeding south, then east around the southern tip of the island of Bali.

Armada 86 05's position, south of Benoa port, with offshore weather system shown to south.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 14/12/2025

Nearly ready for the next leg to the #MH370 search area, Armada 86 05 docks at Benoa port on the island of Bali, Indonesia. It's approximately 7am, local time, as the vessel ties up at the dock. What might be enjoyed for a traditional Balinese breakfast?

A map centred on Penida Island in the Lombok Strait showing the vessel Armada 86 05 turning east out of the Strait's north-south Vessel Traffic Scheme. The vessel proceeds to Benoa port.

Armada 86 05 berthed at Benoa port, 2259UTC on 14th Dec.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 11/12/2025

Ocean Infinity's Armada 86 05 vessel departed Legazpi, PH, 2025-12-09T0500Z & is now enroute to the #MH370 search area. It will navigate the Sibutu Passage into the Celebes Sea, Makassar Strait, & Lombok Strait to the Indian Ocean.

Ocean Infinity's Armada 86 05 vessel departing Vung Tau, 2025-11-09.

A map showing progress of Armada 86 05 eastward across the Sulu Sea when sailing from Singapore to Matnog, and its present leg originatin at Legazpi, southbound across the Sulu Sea to the Indian Ocean southwest of Perth, Australia, where it will conduct a further seafloor search for the wreck of MH370.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 04/12/2025

Armada 86 05 pulled into Legazpi port earlier today. Legazpi is the provincial city of Albay, close to southern tip of Luzon. Full service airport connecting to Manila & port services available.

Portion of a map showing Albay Gulf & Legazpi city where Armada 86 05 docked earlier today, 4th Dec. Legazpi provides transport connections via air to Manila.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 16/11/2025

Armada 86 05 arrives in the bay off Matnog, Philippines. 14 days of archaeological survey scheduled in the San Bernardino Strait or 'el embocadero', as it was known in the Spanish colonial era, when galleons crossing the Pacific to Manila passed through.

Location of Matnog, San Bernardino Strait, 'el embocadero', relative to Philippines-Luzon Island & Manila

Armada 86 06 entered bay off Matnog beach/ferry jetty at 2200Z, Monday 17th 0600 local time.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 14/11/2025

Armada 86 05 has interrupted its voyage to the AllenX-PNM San Bernardino Strait survey site. For the past 15hrs it has been manoeuvring in the Sulu Sea over seafloor that reaches depths of 4400m. A86-05's position is approximately 80NM south west of Central Visayas island. #AllenX #MH370

Map of Sulu Sea clipped from NOAA's Bathymetry Viewer showing a shaded mosiac depth layer derived from multibeam echo sounder survey. Armada 86 05 position Thu 13 Nov indicated by 'X'.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 12/11/2025

Showing progress for Armada 78 05 towards the AllenX/Philippines National Museum marine archaelogical survey in San Bernardino Strait. Estimated present position in Sulu Sea, south of Tubbataha Reefs Nat'l Park and ETA in the Strait on Friday, late morning local time. Map: BigOceanData.com

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 11/11/2025

While it's photography rather than cartography this image from the International Space Station does illustrate geographic information: light sources NW Europe, including North Sea oil & gas platforms. I'm also drawn to it as I can recognise the dot that is the town I call home. #30DayMapChallenge

While it's photography rather than cartography this image captured from the International Space Station does illustrate some geographic information: light sources across eastern Ireland, Britain, and north-west Europe. The oil & gas platforms in the North Sea can also be discriminated.
I'm drawn to it as I can discern the town that is my home among a line of dots spanning 32km.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 11/11/2025

Armada 86 05 voyage to Philippines San Bernardino Strait continues. Illustrating with Marine Traffic's simple route forecast tool, the indicated distance to go suggests 600NM to run, arrival Friday morning local time. 14 days in the SBS area then expected southbound to renew #MH370 search. ⬇️

An image centred on the Sulu Sea showing a track forecast for the voyage of Armada 86 05 to the San Barnardino Strait which separates the Philippine islands of Luzon and Samar. The vessel Armada 86 05 has been engaged by Allen Exploration, in association with Philippines National Museums, to conduct a seafloor survey searching for colonial era and WWII shipwrecks.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 08/11/2025

The San Bernardino Strait historical wreck survey has been publicised to run 5th thru 18th Nov. At this time, it's expected that the survey's 14 day window will simply 'slide to the right' on the calendar.

Overview of South China Sea and surrounding territories. Track depicted for the Ocean Infinity vessel Armada 86 05 since its departure from Singapore (bottom left) and its destination, Matnog, indicated top right, approximately 1350NM distant.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 03/11/2025

A short clip from late August of Armada 86 05 & 06 during final stages of completion at the Vard facility in Vung Tau, VN. Armada 86 05 is, at present, enroute to Singapore and is then expected to join the AllenX team for the San Bernadino Strait (PH) wrecks survey, weather permitting.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 19/06/2025

I’m reminded of … knittingbypost.com/wp-content/u...

A knitted toilet roll/toilet tissue cover

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 04/05/2025

Takes only 3 paragraphs for Murdoch’s super soaraway Sun to illustrate its journalistic incompetence. MH370 disappeared from radar screens on 7th March, not 2nd.

The super soaraway Sun incorrectly states ‘The jet mysteriously vanished from radar on March 2, 2014, while flying to China with 239 people on board and has never been found.’

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 14/03/2025

Ocean Infinity's Armada 78 06 vessel continues its search for the seafloor debris field of #MH370. Images below show the broader features of the present search & A78-06's track as it follows AUVs. The AUV endurance will dictate recoveries over the next 24hrs. Refer to ALT text for more detail.

This image depicts seafloor bathymetry (depth), compiled from GEBCO sources, showing mix of 30-50m resolution detail &, to right/east side, the low resolution 'blur' derived from SRTM.
The canyons & escarpments present a challenge to acquisition of side scan sonar imagery. An AUV will tend to navigate away from obstacles while it can be 'tended' with navigation assistance from the vessel to work difficult areas.

This image shows Armada 78 06 track (red) over the past three days. While the position is AIS derived, it is relayed via satellite & coverage is irregular thus sharp changes in direction may not be entirely accurate. The vessel track provides a proxy for AUV operations: the AUV launch, periodic comms/nav checks, & recovery can be discriminated as progress continues. The area of interest bounded in yellow, showing the canyons & escarpments, lies to the east of vessel track with the AUVs traversing the area along track lines east-west. The bounded area is approx 1,500km²: consistent with 4 days mission carried out by 3 AUVs.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 13/03/2025

A brief update on progress by Armada 78 06 for #MH370 search this morning, 13th March. AUVs continue to acquire seafloor imagery using side scan sonar over this particularly difficult region. Note the, apparently, blurred areas in the image - these are low res from SRTM dataset, not local MBES. ⏹️

Area of Indian Ocean seafloor approx 64km east-west, 36km north-south centred around latitude S36.4º, longitude E92.0º.
Vessel track depicted as red line. Vessel manoeuvring to launch and conduct navigation checks with AUVs operating just above seafloor.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 12/03/2025

Ocean Infinity's 2nd 'swing' to locate #MH370 underway. The bathymetry for the present work area shows E-W oriented escarpments. Black boundary line depicts the extent of Ocean Infinity's 2018 seafloor search campaign. Vessel track & bathymetry, centred S36.4º E92.0º, view approx 60km x 36km. ⬇️

Image of Indian Ocean centred around S36.4º E92.0º, the view extent is approx 60km E-W x 36km N-S. Bathymetry, the seafloor topology, is show by shading. Past 24hrs track for Ocean Infinity's vessel, Armada 78 06, is illustrated - its approaches to the seafloor features are apparent. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles equipped with side scan sonar are launched to conduct image acquisition of the seafloor.

Image of Indian Ocean seafloor centred around S36.4º E92.0º, the view extent is approx 60km E-W x 36km N-S. Bathymetry, that is the seafloor topology, is show by shading. This detailed seafloor imagery exposes canyons and escarpments across which depths vary by as much as 625m.
The detailed bathymetry data was acquired during an MBES survey conducted in H2, 2014. Lateral resolution is in the order of 30m-50m (depth dependent).

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 11/03/2025

At 0500Z today A78-06 reached the designated search area. It has passed the 'block' OI described as one of its two areas of interest (the other is 'mirrored' on the northwest side of the 7th arc). AIS broadcasts continue to report Cape Town as A78-06's destination. Ocean wide view for context. ⬇️

Map showing some lines!
The grey-orange line crossing from right to left is the track of Armada 78 05 over the past 18 hrs. It passes close to the unshaded red boundary, the designated area of interest. The pink-red shaded area denotes an area previously searched.
The orange icons are long line tuna fishing vessels, the blue icons are marker beacons on the long (10s of kilometres) lines deployed by the fishing vessels.

Full view of Indian Ocean indicating the search area, circled.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 10/03/2025

The search vessel, Armada 78 06, at Henderson, WA, during its replenishment visit 2025-03-04 thru 2025-03-06.

Armada 78 06 pictured while undergoing replenishment at Henderson, West Australia. The AUVs are operated from 3 containerised hangars mounted on the transom (hidden by aft superstructure). The tower/gantry is a LARS, launch and recovery system, designed to handle a geotechnical payload through the vessel's moon pool. That payload is not deployed on the vessel for this operation. Visible through the gantry is the fast recovery boat, and its LARS, used to aid recovery of the AUVs.

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mh370.io, compiled by Don Thompson @mh370.io · 10/03/2025

Second 'swing' of Ocean Infinity's 2025 #MH370 search beginning. Shortly, Armada 78-06 will begin launching AUVs. Indications from present course & first 'swing' is that a section of escarpment around S35.25º E93.338º needs attention. H/T x-com/LabratSR AIS data: bigoceandata-com

An area of ocean/seafloor in the southern Indian Ocean where the search for wreckage of MH370 is underway. An image layer shows geological escarpments in the area, these are getting particular attention: acquiring side scan sonar is particularly difficult on rough gradients. The present track of Armada 78 06 into the zone is depicted and a specific area that is expected to be given attention.

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