A Phoenix search team and the Navy’s Towed Pinger Locator system (TPL-30) were mobilized to search for the wreck. The TPL is a passive acoustic system designed to detect emissions from salt-water activated beacons onboard the SH-60B. A Phoenix winch and cable, already pre-positioned in Cyprus, and the TPL were installed aboard M/T EDT ARGONAUT, a 137 ft. long vessel owned by EDT Towage & Salvage of Limassol, Cyprus. The location of the helicopter was pinpointed on 5 April after analyzing data from six TPL survey lines. In mid-May, the Phoenix recovery team mobilized the company’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Remora II, to re-locate, rig, and retrieve the SH-60B. The ROV was mobilized aboard EDT’s M/T EDT ARES, a 245 ft. dynamically positioned, multi-purpose work vessel. After 141 hours of ROV operations, approximately 16,000 lbs. of helicopter wreckage was recovered and returned to Sicily for an investigation into the cause of the crash.

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 such expertise.

Phoenix provides high quality manned and unmanned marine services to an international customer base from 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 required to plan and conduct worldwide underwater search and recovery operations.