Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Orient-Constructor

On December 4, 2019, the advanced search vessel 'Seabed Constructor' successfully located the resting place of the infamous German armoured cruiser SMS 'Scharnhorst' near the Falkland Islands, a site of significant military history where the ship was lost over a century ago. This notable discovery marks the 105th anniversary of the Scharnhorst's sinking, which occurred on December 8, 1914, during a naval engagement with the British Royal Navy. As the flagship of Vice-Admiral Maximilian Graf von Spee’s East Asia Squadron, the SMS 'Scharnhorst' met a tragic fate alongside 860 crew members, including Vice-Admiral von Spee himself. Mensun Bound, the leader of the search team, described the moment of the ship's discovery as surreal, stating, "Suddenly she just came out of the gloom with great guns poking in every direction. As a Falkland Islander and marine archaeologist, this significant find is an unforgettable, poignant moment in my life." The quest to uncover the SMS 'Scharnhorst' began five years earlier, coinciding with the centennial of the Battle of the Falkland Islands, although initial attempts were not fruitful. The recent expedition employed the 'Seabed Constructor' in combination with four autonomous underwater vehicles, leading to success on the third day of exploration, at a depth of 1,610 meters. Importantly, the wreck remains undisturbed, with the Falkland Maritime Heritage Trust advocating for its legal protection. The SMS 'Scharnhorst' was part of Germany's East Asia Squadron, tasked with operations mainly in the Pacific prior to World War One. Its presence was instrumental during the Battle of Coronel, where it inflicted significant losses on the British fleet, marking Britain’s first naval defeat of the war, with over 1,600 British lives lost, while the Germans reported no casualties. The battle at the Falkland Islands had profound repercussions in the war, leading to the dissolution of the East Asia Squadron, which could no longer participate in commerce raiding activities. The British fleet, having regrouped, pursued the German squadron and engaged them fiercely, resulting in the sinking of the SMS 'Scharnhorst'. Tragically, Vice-Admiral von Spee’s two sons perished in the conflict, with Heinrich aboard SMS Gneisenau and Otto on the light cruiser SMS 'Leipzig', contributing to the staggering total of 2,200 German sailors who lost their lives that day. Wilhelm Graf von Spee, a descendant of the von Spee family, reflected on the discovery as bittersweet, highlighting the duality of relief and sorrow. He remarked, "We take comfort knowing that the final resting place of so many has been found and can now be preserved, whilst also being reminded of the huge waste of life. As a family, we lost a father and his two sons on one day, and like countless others throughout the First World War, we remember their sacrifices and strive to ensure they were not in vain." The Battle of the Falkland Islands remains a pivotal chapter in naval history, shaping the course of World War One and echoing the sacrifices made during one of history’s most devastating conflicts. For further visuals and insights, visit: [BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50670743) and [Metro UK](https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/05/incredible-pictures-show-newly-discovered-warship-sunk-landmark-1914-battle-11276498/).

The quest to unravel the mystery surrounding the French submarine 'Minerve', which vanished in the western Mediterranean on January 1, 1968, has taken a significant turn with the recent discovery by the 'Seabed Constructor'. This groundbreaking finding occurred near the southern French port city of Toulon, at a staggering depth of 2,370 meters. For decades, the fate of the Minerve and its 52 crew members remained unknown, despite numerous search operations. In early 2019, French Minister Florence Parly initiated a renewed search effort, fueled by the relentless requests of the victims' families yearning for closure. Armed with advanced technology and naval capabilities, the team utilized sophisticated modeling of tides and currents in the region, alongside re-evaluating historical data from the time of the incident. This included seismic evidence suggesting that the submarine may have imploded as it descended to the ocean floor. The 'Seabed Constructor' commenced its mission on July 16, 2019, leading to this remarkable discovery that promises to shed light on the tragedy of the Minerve.

On the morning of March 5, 2019, a dire distress signal was sent from the French sailing yacht 'TI Paradise', approximately 1,400 kilometers off the coast of Comodoro Rivadavia. The yacht capsized during a fierce storm, located at coordinates 47 ° 58'9 S and 045 ° 41'2 W. The Argentine Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) quickly launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation. Responding to the emergency were the offshore support vessel 'Seabed Constructor', alongside the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier 'Atlantic Monterrey', which was en route to Buenaventura, and the naval ship 'Estrecho San Carlos'. A search aircraft was also dispatched from the Malvinas Islands. The 'Seabed Constructor' was the first to reach the stricken yacht, arriving around 10 p.m. after covering a distance of 77 miles. Upon confirming the yacht was still afloat with five crew members aboard, the vessel began escorting 'TI Paradise' toward the Falkland Islands. During the rescue operation, one sailor, Pascale Noel from Luxembourg, suffered injuries and was transferred to the 'Seabed Constructor.' He was subsequently airlifted by helicopter on March 8 and taken to Port Stanley for medical treatment. Tragically, two other crew members—a 68-year-old Uruguayan woman and a 66-year-old French skipper—were swept overboard amid four-meter high waves and wind gusts exceeding 60 km/h. They were not wearing life jackets when they went missing, leaving their families and friends in distress. For further details and photographs, refer to the French report: https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/velero-frances-accidentado-tripulante-herida-trasladada-malvinas-helicoptero_0_bPNLPXsIr.html.