i stated that the ocean shield would be delayed from going to the approximate area where the haixun 01 had detected the signals while she continued her own investigations. today i can report some very encouraging information which has unfolded over the last 24 hours. the towed pinger locator deployed from the australian defense vessel ocean shield has detected signals consistent with those emitted by aircraft black boxes. two separate signal detections have occurred within the northern part of the defined search area. the first detect was held for approximately two hours and 20 minutes. the ship then lost contact before conducting a turn and attempting to reacquire the signal.