A Phoenix search team used the Navy’s Towed Pinger Locator system (TPL-30) and a Phoenix winch and cable system to locate the F-14B. The TPL is a passive acoustic system designed to detect emissions from the aircraft’s saltwater activated beacons. Phoenix search personnel and equipment were embarked on the 137 ft., M/T EDT ARGONAUT, an EDT Towage & Salvage vessel from Limassol, Cyprus. The F-14’s location was refined on 1 April after a 36 hour TPL survey. After recovering a Navy helicopter off Greece, a Phoenix recovery team proceeded to the F-14 site on the 245 ft. M/T EDT ARES, a DPII, multi-purpose work vessel. Phoenix’s Remotely Operated Vehicle, Remora II, re-located the aircraft using a CTFM forward looking sonar. Thereafter, Remora rigged and recovered all major components of the F-14. The main body was recovered on June 6^th using the Navy’s Fly Away Deep Ocean Salvage System, a motion compensation system that reduces snap loads on the lift line.

The US Navy, through the Naval Sea Systems Command‘s Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) developed and maintains a national capability to search, locate, and recover objects of interest lost in water depths to 20,000 feet. In addition to meeting the Navy’s search and recovery needs, SUPSALV offers its assistance in support of accident investigations by the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, NASA, FAA, and NTSB, as well as to foreign governments and agencies requesting its expertise.

Phoenix provides high quality manned and unmanned marine services to an international customer base from its facilities in Landover, MD and Morgan City, LA. Phoenix is the SUPSALV prime contractor responsible for maintaining, modifying, upgrading, and operating Navy owned sonar, ROV, and heavy lift equipment used to conduct worldwide underwater search and recovery operations.