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Chinese vessel joining search for MH 370

Media Release

WT031/2016

29 January 2016

As the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 continues, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss today announced that a Chinese ship, Dong Hai Jiu 101, will be deployed to join search operations.

“The Australian Government welcomes the Dong Hai Jiu 101 to the search effort and thanks the Government of the People's Republic of China for its generous contribution,” Mr Truss said.

“The ship, offered to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull by Premier Li Keqiang of the People's Republic of China in November 2015, will undertake search operations in the southern Indian Ocean.

“The total value of the contribution by the People's Republic of China, including the ship, is around $20 million.

“The ship has recently been refitted and will be equipped with the ProSAS-60—a 6,000 metre depth-rated synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) towed system to be used in search operations.

“The ProSAS-60 will be operated by Phoenix International Holdings and Hydrospheric Solutions; both companies have experience in the search for MH 370 having previously operated on the search vessel GO Phoenix.

“The ship is currently in Singapore for mobilisation and is expected to depart for Australia on Sunday (31 January). It will commence operations in the search area towards the end of February.

“The presence of Dong Hai Jiu 101 will supplement the work of Fugro Discovery, Fugro Equator and Havila Harmony, and returns to four the number of vessels actively searching for MH 370 in the 120,000 square kilometre search area.”