The FPV Morven docked yesterday morning and will be used by a privately-funded team led by shipwreck hunter David Mearns.
Mr Mearns will use the vessel to conduct an underwater search for the wreckage of the Piper Malibu plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, which disappeared near Alderney on Monday 14 January.
‘We are repositioning the Morven to Guernsey early while there is a slight break in the Channel sea conditions. This will save at least six hours to be used for searching, which we hope to start on Sunday,’ he said,
The 65ft former Scottish Fisheries protection vessel, owned by A-2-Sea Solutions, is fitted with survey equipment, including an echo sounder, sonar and a remotely operated underwater vehicle.
A-2-Sea Solutions Ltd business manager, Ross Taylor, said: ‘I can confirm that A-2-Sea Solutions have been hired to conduct the underwater search for the plane that was carrying Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson and are operating under the direction of David Mearns of Blue Water Recoveries.’
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has also commissioned a search vessel, after the discovery of cushions believed to be from the plane helped identify a priority search area.
Having looked at the feasibility of conducting an underwater seabed search for aircraft wreckage, the AAIB said: ‘Based on a detailed assessment of the flight path and last known radar position, we have now identified a priority search area of approximately four square nautical miles,’ it said.
‘Through the Ministry of Defence’s salvage and marine operations project team, we have commissioned a specialist survey vessel to carry out an underwater survey of the seabed to try to locate and identify possible aircraft wreckage.’
Mr Mearns said the Morven would work in close collaboration with the AAIB search effort as ‘safely, completely and efficiently as possible’.
Movern and the MoD boat are not expected to start searching until the weekend due to sea conditions and weather.
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