The Argentine Navy has launched a search mission for diesel-electric submarine ARA San Juan after losing contact with it on Wednesday, November 15.
According to Argentine media reports, the diesel-electric submarine ARA San Juan was last seen off the coast of Puerto Madryn, Southern Argentina, where the navy had been staging an integrated exercise.
The boat reportedly suffered a power outage while en route from the Ushuaia naval base to its homeport at Mar del Plata naval base. Some reports further indicated that a fire had broken out aboard.
While the navy is yet to issue an official statement, a navy spokesman told media that the ARA San Juan last communicated its position in the morning hours of November 15.
A report on Friday morning which said the submarine had been located and under tow to Mar del Plata was refuted by a navy spokesman.
ARA San Juan is a TR-1700-class diesel-electric submarine built by Germany’s Thyssen Nordseewerke and delivered to Argentina in 1985. The submarine returned to service in 2014 after several years of repairs.