Attempted distress calls did not come from missing sub: Argentina navy

BUENOS AIRES: The seven signals received at Argentina’s naval bases at the weekend were not attempted distress calls from one of its submarines, now missing for five days, the navy said Monday.

“We’ve received the report from the company that analyzed the signals — the seven attempted calls did not come from the submarine’s satellite phone,” navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said.

Argentina’s navy had earlirer disclosed that the missing submarine had reported a mechanical breakdown in its final communication. 

“The vessel surfaced and it reported a breakdown. It was therefore asked to change course and go to Mar del Plata,” the head of the naval base in the northeastern city Gabriel Galeazzi had said.

“We’ve received the report from the company that analyzed the signals — the seven attempted calls did not come from the submarine’s satellite phone,” he had stated, adding: “We have still been unable to contact them.”

The ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric sub, made its last contact on Wednesday.

A multinational air and sea search is under way with help from countries including Brazil, Britain, Chile, the United States and Uruguay.