Ocean Infinity moves closer to MH370 search area in hope of go-ahead

Kuala Lumpur: US-based seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity says it is moving a vessel closer to a possible search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 as it soon expects to be awarded a contract by Malaysia to resume the search.

The disappearance of the aircraft en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014 with 239 people aboard ranks among the world's greatest aviation mysteries. Australia, China and Malaysia ended a fruitless $200-million search in January last year.

The hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was called off in January 2017 after almost three years of fruitless toil. Credit: Sanjit Das

But in October, Malaysia said it was in talks with Ocean Infinity to resume the search on a "no-cure, no-fee" basis, meaning the firm will only get paid if it finds the plane.

"Ocean Infinity is hopeful of receiving the final contract award for the resumption of the search for MH370 over the coming days," a company spokesman said.

Flight officer Rayan Gharazeddine scans the water in the southern Indian Ocean off Australia from a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion during a search in 2014.Credit: ROB GRIFFITH

"With a relatively narrow weather window, we are moving the vessel, Seabed Constructor, towards the vicinity of the possible search zone. This is designed to save time should the contract award be forthcoming, as hoped," he said.

Reuters shipping data showed the Seabed Constructor left Durban, South Africa, on Tuesday and was headed to Perth, Australia, where it is due on February 7.

Malaysia's Deputy Transport Minister Aziz Kaprawi said the government was negotiating final terms of the agreement with Ocean Infinity and he was not aware of the vessel's movement.

"We are in the final stages of the decision. On our part, we have yet to finalise the agreement," he said.

Relatives of passengers onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 demand the Chinese government continues the search last year.Credit: NG HAN GUAN

When asked whether Australia and China would be consulted about the contract award, Aziz said: "Basically, Malaysia will make the decision, as this offer was made to the Malaysian government. The cost will also be decided by Malaysia."

Investigators believe someone may have deliberately switched off the transponder of the Boeing 777 before diverting it over the Indian Ocean.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau staff examine a piece of aircraft debris found off the coast of Tanzania at their laboratory in Canberra last year.Credit: AP

Various pieces of debris have been collected from Indian Ocean islands and Africa's east coast and at least three of them have been confirmed as coming from the missing plane.

Reuters