FBI's own sub (ROV) to help in bridge search

[u-5075]

FBI Divers Add High Technology To Bridge Recovery Effort
Last Update: Aug 6, 2007 6:04 PM

wfrv.com


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - An unmanned FBI submarine equipped with sonar and powerful underwater lights will assist in the effort to find bodies at the collapsed interstate bridge site.

Dive teams from the Navy are also coming in to help. It's after local agencies asked for federal help in the search for victims still in the water.

At least eight people are still missing.

FBI spokesman Paul McCabe says 13 people on three dive teams will be working at the collapse site. The unmanned sub is equipped with sonar, lights, cameras and a grabbing arm.

Also today, a huge crane is being moved toward the crash site to begin removing pieces of debris from the collapsed bridge.

[tmsmalley]

I live in the Minneapolis

I live in the Minneapolis area and have work dealings with Bill Chandler, the captain in the Hennepin County Sheriffs Dept who has been handling the diving coordination.

The Navy "sub" is a small ROV - nothing special. We have access to those all along - a number of Minnesota counties have them for body search and recovery. The problem is that the water is so turbid that the cameras are useless.