Thd Sophie Siem vessel departs at Comodoro Rivadavia harbour after the US Navy installed its deep diving rescue vehicle to support the search and rescue efforts for the Argentine missing submarine ARA San Juan in Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut province. (PABLO VILLAGRA/AFP) |
The navy has shifted its mission from rescue to recovery, spokesman Enrique Balbi said.
He said though it was not possible to definitively confirm the crew had perished, "no evidence of a shipwreck was found in the areas explored" and the international rescue effort had continued for "twice the time" it was estimated they could have survived.
The navy's final contact with the ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric sub, came on Nov 15, when it was sailing in the South Atlantic 450km from the coast.
In its final communication, the submarine reported it had overcome a mechanical breakdown that resulted from a short circuit due to the entry of water via the vessel's snorkel.
Three hours later, a noise similar to an explosion was recorded 48km from where the crew had given its last report.
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