Airbus Locates maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire IX

Toulouse, 04 December 2018 – Airbus’ Ocean Finder service has located the maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire IX (Ultime class) in less than a day after it capsized halfway between Portugal and the Azores on 6 November during the latest Route du Rhum transatlantic race.

As soon as the request was received from Team Banque Populaire, Airbus activated the OceanFinder service and immediately programmed its satellites to collect very high-resolution images as quickly as possible, in case the trimaran’s beacon system had failed. Airbus’ maritime experts and Team Banque Populaire defined the search area, taking into account a combination of data that could influence the drift of the wreckage (winds, currents, waves).

 The 32-metre-long vessel, skippered by Armel Le Cléac’h, was then identified by the Pléiadessatellites, which provide images at a resolution of 0.5 metres.

 Ocean Finder is an online service for the detection and identification of objects at sea (ships, icebergs, oil slicks), combining satellite imagery, AIS (Automatic Identification System) and open source data.

 Find out more here: https://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/en/8231-maritime-monitoring-services#oceanfinder

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2017 it generated revenues of € 59 billion restated for IFRS 15 and employed a workforce of around 129,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.