Argentina searches for missing navy submarine

Argentina’s navy launched a huge search-and-rescue operation in search for a military submarine with 44 crew members that has been out of radio contact for three days.

The submarine is believed to have gone missing off the coast of Patagonia in the South Atlantic.

Argentinian President, Mauricio Macri said all national and international resources were being used to help find the San Juan as soon as possible.

"We share their concern and that of all Argentines," he wrote on Twitter. "We are committed to using all national and international resources necessary to find the ARA San Juan submarine as soon as possible."

A Nasa research plane has joined the search for the submarine. Britain and many other countries in the region have offered their help after it disappeared around 430km off the coast.

Navy spokesman, Enrique Balbi, told local television that as there was no indication of problems from the submarine, it could not yet be termed lost.

"We have not been able to find, or have visual or radar communication with the submarine," Enrique Balbi said.

The vessel was returning from a routine mission to Ushuaia, to its base at Mar del Plata, south of Buenos Aires.

So far, there are no clues about its whereabouts.

It is thought that the submarine may have had communication difficulties caused by a power cut.

Heavy winds and high waves have further complicated the rescuers’ task.

 An Argentine destroyer and two corvettes are conducting a search around the area of the sub's last known position off the south-eastern Valdez peninsula.

"Detection has been difficult despite the quantity of boats and aircraft involved in the search", Balbi said.

Navy protocol dictates that a submarine should come to the surface if communication has been lost.

"We expect that it is on the surface," he said.

Adm Gabriel González, chief of the Mar del Plata base, said the vessel had sufficient food and oxygen. “We have a loss of communications; we are not talking of an emergency,” he said.

The German-built submarine was inaugurated in 1983, the newest of the three submarines in the Argentine navy's fleet.