Navy hunts for missing underwater vehicles in Va
Unmanned vehicles went missing in Chesapeake Bay
WAVY
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – The Navy is searching the waters of Hampton Roads for four missing Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs).
The unmanned vehicles were being used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1 on Sunday when communication was lost with four out of 13 UUVs operating in the Thimble Shoals Channel. The Thimble Shoals Channel runs between the Hampton Roads Bridge Channel and Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
The Navy says search and recovery operations began immediately, and continue utilizing small craft, shore based teams, marine mammal systems and air assets coordinated to search and locate based on Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) predicted models. The Coast Guard and local officials are also assisting.
Officials say the Underwater Unmanned Vehicles do not pose a danger to civilians or the environment. If a UUV is floating in the water, boaters should avoid the UUV in a similar fashion to any other hazard to navigation. If you spot one in the water, the Navy says to not handle the equipment, but to call 757-443-982.
The vehicles, identified as Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) 100 Swordfish Underwater Unmanned Vehicles, are 7.5 inches in diameter, 62 inches long, and weigh around 80 pounds.
The underwater vehicles were being used to conduct search, classify and map missions in support of exercise Frontier Sentinel 2010.
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