Missile-shaped object found floating in Bermuda’s waters

[seruriermarshal]

Missile-shaped object found floating in Bermuda’s waters

Published Aug 12, 2012 at 10:15 pm

An unidentified object floating in the ocean near Bermuda is to be investigated by US authorities. The shape of the suspicious object resembles a missile.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service said in a statement: "At approximately 1.10pm today Bermuda Radio and the Bermuda Police Service received a call from a mariner who reported seeing a suspicious floating object in Bermuda's territorial waters. Bermuda Police Service is making contact with US authorities to obtain a full understanding of the object and to ascertain if they can assist with its recovery.

“This object is not believed to be dangerous, however it should only be handled by experts. If anyone should come into contact with this object, simply record the GPS co-ordinates and report to Harbour Radio immediately. It should be important to note: under NO circumstance should anyone attempt tempt to handle this object.”

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120812/NEWS/708129997

 

[seruriermarshal]

Unidentified Floating Object In Bermuda’s Waters

August 12, 2012 · 13 Comments

[Updated] The police issued a notice this evening [Aug 12] saying there is an “object” in Bermuda’s waters, and although it is not believed to be dangerous, it should only be handled by experts and under no circumstances should anyone attempt to handle it.

The police said they are making contact with US authorities to “obtain a full understanding of the object.”

Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said: “At approximately 1:10pm today [Sunday] Bermuda Radio and the Bermuda Police Service received a call from a mariner who reported seeing a suspicious floating object in Bermuda’s territorial waters.

“Bermuda Police Service is making contact with US authorities to obtain a full understanding of the object and to ascertain if they can assist with its recovery.

“This object is not believed to be dangerous however it should only be handled by experts. If anyone should come into contact with this object, simply record the GPS co-ordinates and report to Harbour Radio immediately.

“It should be important to note: under no circumstance should anyone attempt to handle this object,” concluded Mr Caines.

Update 10.13pm: Speaking with Harbour Radio, they said they received a call this afternoon describing the sighting of an “unknown object” in the Challenger Banks area.

The “object” was described as cylindrical in shape, approximately 6 feet long and around 10 inches in diameter. Harbour Radio said both the Bermuda Police and U.S. Coast Guard were informed. They also repeated what the police said, asking mariners to report any sightings of the “object” to Harbour Radio.

http://bernews.com/2012/08/unidentified-floating-object-in-bermudas-watrers/

 

[shaba]

looks like an AUV i think there was a similar incident in the pacific earlier this year. http://www.gizmag.com/go/3440/

 

[worktroll]

I'm guessing it's a paravane - something you put on the end of a line towed underwater to make the line stretch out and stay at a consistent angle to the towing ship. Minesweepers use them to keep steel cables rigid when sweeping for tethered mines. The fins are to make it consistently want to go at an angle to the cable attachment point - which is I suspect on the underside.

The side fins are clearly rigid and bolted on, not aerodynamic looking. The colouring works in this case as well. I'd think AUVs would a) not be designed with such clear "streamlining", as they're basically drifters, and b) much more clearly identified (you'd want them returned or put back if swept up in a net).

My two M-bills' worth.

 

[Steve Pace]

I'm thinking they are Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) shapes. -SP

 

[Michel Van]

has DARPA lost a prototype again at AUTEC ?

 

[shaba]

The AUV i posted works like an underwater glider gliding at a shallow angle as it sinks til it reaches a set depth then compressed air empties the ballast tanks causing it plane up then when it reaches the surface the whole cycle repeats.the colors and configuration of the fins match almost exactly except the tailfin is silver instead of orange

 

[GTX]

Shaba got it right first time - it is the Spray AUV

 

[seruriermarshal]

Thanks guys

;D

8/13/2012 7:41:00 AM
Floating object used for research
Mikaela Ian Pearman
Online News Reporter

MONDAY, AUGUST 13: An object that was seen floating in Bermuda’s waters is used for scientific research.

Yesterday, a member of the public called police and Bermuda Radio to report seeing a suspicious floating object in the water.

Police issued a warning to the public that no one should handle the object even though it wasn’t deemed dangerous.

A spokesman from Bermuda Radio said: “Bermuda Radio can confirm that the suspected missile spotted on the crown of challenger bank is in fact a scientific glider used to collect marine data.

“The unit was recently deployed by scientists from BIOS in conjunction with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

“The instrument stopped transmitting data around 48 hours ago and was considered lost.

“BIOS and Woods Hole are keen to recover the unit.

“Any sighting of the glider should be reported to Bermuda Radio so that retrieval can be arranged.”

http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=270&ArticleID=59997