The article is footnoted with his sources from reputable authorities. For example:
If the article is correct, this would be a bombshell.
But... I'd like to see someone else, or Woods Hole itself, corroborate this. After all, the pings were picked up by the experts using the TPL, and their whole job is finding these pingers. Aussie acoustic experts reportedly (per Angus Houston) verified them.
Thus I find it unlikely (but not impossible) that the searchers are on the wrong track in this regard. More likely is that the article is wrong and the authorities are misquoted. I suspect we'll know one way or the other in a day or two.
Currently, the Woods Hole site, which has a FAQ on this search, doesn't mention ULB's at all.