Presentation to the families of the results of the research of the
"Why not?" - February 28, 2019
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After a meeting for a first contact in the presence of representatives of the families on February 11, 2019, a new delegation of families was received at the Prefecture of Toulon on February 28 for an assessment of_cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_first searches done over 6 days.
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For this 2nd meeting there were:
Mrs. Thérèse SCHEIRMANN-DESCAMPS, Mrs. Isabelle HELMER, Mrs. Anne DORE, Messrs. Bernard and Jean-Marc MEUNIER, Mr. Jacques DANNAY, Mr. François_cc781905-5-cde bb3b-136bad5cf58d_NAAS and Jean-Marc DORE represented the families at this meeting which was held on the initiative of the Maritime Prefect in the maritime prefecture of Toulon on February 27, 2019 at 4 p.m.
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The reception of l'Admiral DU CHE, maritime prefect was warm.He has indicated that he will be retiring this summer and that he would like to leave with some happy news about La Minerve. This is all the more important to him as he was a submariner!
He remains optimistic, but does not underestimate the difficulties.
This one after a brief presentation of the research already carried out and those to come, he gave the floor to Commander REDOUTEY for a specific point of the research.
Boards presented to families and the press during the 1st meeting
Family representatives on February 5, 2019. From left to right: Marie Edith Cailliau-Baudez, Patrice Baudez, Isabelle Helmer, Jean-Marc Meunier, Hervé Fauve, André Fauve-Piot, Christophe Agnus
Mission of "Why Pas"
On the night of February 7 to 8, 2019 the ship "Pourquoi Pas?" surveyed the predefined area with a hull sounder.
From February 16 to 19, a Drone AUV a performed 30 hours of diving and the Nautile 25 hours.
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Only a small part of the total area planned for research could be investigated. This is partly due to small damage to the equipment, normal during the equipment test period.
In 3 nights, the drone detected 150 questionable probes (technical term used). The Nautile then dived on those which corresponded to the strongest echoes, and carried out 3 dives which showed to identify:
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1ère plongée : a barrel, a pipe and unidentifiable metal parts
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2nd plongée : a drum, metal boxes and an oil can.
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3rd plongée : a barrel and a boat chimney.
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The elements were not buried, which suggests that it must be the same for the Minervaif it is in the planned exploration area. Their reduced sizes have also proven the performance of the equipment used to locate metallic objects.
This makes it possible to nurture strong hopes of finding the wreckage of the Minerve, even if the wreckage, as is likely, lies in several pieces.
The 30 km2 area which has been checked has not detected any traces or clues belonging to Minerva.
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The IFREMER vessel, the "Pourquoi pas?" set sail in early February. His route (white lines on the sea) shows how he traveled above the presumed place of the sinking -Map of February 19, 2019
