Heathrow Harry,
Commodore Leavy said that P-3C Orions would drop sonar buoys in the water today around the area of the Ocean Shield search area. He was saying during the JACC news conference today the RAAF technicians had modified the sonar buoys to detect 37.5 KHZ signal. He described how when sonar buoys hit the water they drop on a 1000ft wire a hydrophone into the sea below.
They cant afford to have other vessels in the area as it contaminates the sound signature and introduces more background noises. The TPL-25 is towed a few Kilometres behind the vessel at around 2 knots. And all the Ocean shield unnecessary equipment is switched off.
So its a one ship job until the pinger is out of power and or they decide they have enough returns to calculate a reasonable search area.