The possibility of resuming research
Meticulous study of the Minerve file in the archives convinced Hervé FAUVE that there was no justification for stopping research in 1968. He was also convinced that, technically, it would be possible to carry out a successful search in 2018. Under his impetus, the families joined forces to publish a press release calling for the resumption of the search for the wreck of the Minerve, which had been suspended 48 years previously.
Birth of a community
The fiftieth anniversary ceremonies drew media attention to the story of the families of those lost on the submarine Minerve. It also awakened the memories of former sailors and comrades-in-arms of the crew. Hervé FAUVE receives dozens of emails every day thanks to the website you are browsing. The site is growing every day with new testimonies and documents.
Among these, there is one that particularly catches his attention. It's an email from Daniel ALBERTI, a former mine clearance diver who knew the family of sailor Christian NICOLAS very well.
I asked a friend about this, namely the cost of such a search, but his response is slow because he recently lost his wife. He was a bomb disposal officer, and we did our advanced training together.
It's not on the agenda, but if anyone in the world knows about searching for wrecks at great depths, it's him. He's Paul-Henry Nargeolet, he was part of the team that carried out the first dive on the Titanic.
He was also commander of the search operation for AF flight 447
This email, followed by several others, allowed Hervé FAUVE to get in touch with Paul Henri NARGEOLET, a Frenchman who had become a recognized specialist on the wreck of the Titanic. He was one of the people behind the shots of the wreck for James CAMERON's film, which indicated that a resumption of the search for the Minerve would have a strong chance of success. A budget of 8 million Euros would have to be considered .... He writes:
"If there's the budget to look for Minerva we'll find it.
Ocean Infinity is way over budget. The ship should run around $80,000/d plus 8 AUVs and ASVs. There's no need for that much equipment for the Minerva."
PH
But where will we find that kind of money?
There was no reason to stop the research in 1968.
Alongside these exchanges, the file held in the archives was photographed and meticulously studied by Hervé Fauve, the commander's son, who eventually became an expert on the subject. This file is rich in detailed information about what happened in 1968, but it is also revealing because of what it does not contain. In particular, one essential element is missing: how the decision to abandon the search for the Minerve was made in 1970 ?
Although no decision has been taken to stop the research, there is nothing to prevent it from being resumed, even 50 years later.
Research should be resumed
Through numerous discussions, Hervé Fauve's conviction grew stronger: " We must find the Minerva, it is possible today."
The many contacts made with journalists for the fiftieth anniversary led him to construct a plan to mobilize support that could allow him to achieve his new objective "Rediscover the Minerva"
This plan would follow the following steps:
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Obtain the support of as many families of missing persons as possible for the project to resume the search
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Getting press support
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Contact elected officials to relay the families' request to the authorities or attract the attention and interest of a potential patron
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Convince the Navy authorities that this resumption of research is possible
This plan, developed in August 2018, will be immediately implemented.