MH370: M'sia discussing with Australia, China to engage fourth vessel for search

Malaysia is still in the midst of discussions with Australia and China to engage a fourth vessel, 'Fugro Supporter', to assist in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there was a need to deploy more equipments due to difficulties faced by the search mission in the southern Indian Ocean.

He said there were currently three vessels involved in the operation, namely 'Go Phoenix', 'Fugro Discovery' and 'Fugro Equator'.

"We are engaging in efforts to add another vessel, 'Fugro Supporter'. When the time is right, we will announce," he told reporters after officiating the Negeri Sembilan MCA's Cadres Training Camp here today.

The search operation for MH370 is now into its 11th month since it went missing at 2.40am on March 8, last year.

The flight carrying 227 passengers, including two infants and 12 crew, disappeared from the radar en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, about an hour after taking off from the KL International Airport. It was scheduled to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am.

Liow said to date, the search for the missing aircraft had covered 26 per cent of the 60,000 sq km targeted search area.