BOURBON RHODE Oct 10 UPDATE: Search continuing with several ships engaged in SAR, see screenshot below. Oct 9 satellite image showed an object which may be life raft, and of course, it stoked SAR and hopes of all concerned. It is said, that French Government and BOURBON Company are under constant pressure to continue SAR, and they in their turn, make everything possible to go on with search. On the other hand, most indispensable asset for a deep-ocean SAR, is available but not deployed. I mean French Navy ships, namely frigates, with helicopters on board. There’s at least one idling at Capo Verde, and we don’t know, where is another one, VENTOSE, the one which participated in first stage of SAR, until it was suspended. Planes deployment is restricted by sheer distance, while frigate can stay in SAR area for days and weeks, and helicopter is the best search instrument there is.
In full: https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2019/27253/bourbon-offshore-tug-distressed-atlantic-14-crew-w
