Phase 4 Search and Phase 5 Recovery - clarification
WHOI lead the REMUS 6000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle search which used three of these vehicles operating from the Dive Support Vessel "ALUCIA". The AUV's using sidescan sonar detected the presence of debris which was confirmed when further dives by AUVs using cameras photographed (85,000) the whole debris field from a height of 10m above the sea floor.
The photographs allowed the BEA to localize parts of the debris field, and a different vessel - "Ile de Sein" using a REMORA 6000 ROV operated by Phoenix International is currently undertaking recovery operations. The recorders have been recovered and ancillary recovery work is still proceeding.