During a search of the waters of the Duke of York islands by one of the RAN's high tech. survey ships, HMAS Benalla, a strange shape was discovered.

A three dimensional image of the object, sixty metres deep, was developed on the Benalla's sonar screens.

Lieutenant Commander Richard Mortimer told Marshall, "We've got confirmation on two different systems that there is definitely a feature there. There's a non-natural mound there. "

For retired RAN commander John Foster who was aboard the Benalla it was a golden moment. He's spent 30 years searching for the AE1.

Foster told Marshall, "I'm going to stick my neck out and say it is a possible submarine."

Mortimer: "Yeah. I would concur with that."

Foster looks forward to the day that a remotely operated submersible will be brought to the site to locate and photograph the object to confirm whether it is the AE1.