Contract terms for MH370 search to be finalised in days
Lee Mei Leng
Published: Feb 19, 2025 8:48 PM
Updated: 11:48 PM
Summary
- The contract for a new MH370 search by Ocean Infinity is expected to be finalised soon, with terms still under review by the attorney-general.
- An Ocean Infinity ship is en route to the presumed crash site near Australia, ahead of contract signing. The search will cover a 15,000-square kilometre area based on new analysis.
- The search follows a “no find, no fee” arrangement, with Ocean Infinity requesting $70 million (RM311 million) if successful.
The terms for the contract to find the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are expected to be finalised within days, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
“We have yet to sign the contract. The contract is still with the attorney-general and the terms should be finalised in the next few days,” he told KiniTV when asked during a dinner function in Cheras tonight.
He said this when asked about reports that a ship from the marine robotics company Ocean Infinity is currently en route from Mauritius towards the presumed crash site.
Ship tracking websites list the ship “Armada 78 06’s” destination as “Offshore Australia” and is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon, which has sparked reports and speculation that Ocean Infinity may start the search even before the contract with Malaysia is signed.
“We have yet to sign the contract. The contract is still with the attorney-general and the terms should be finalised in the next few days,” he told KiniTV when asked during a dinner function in Cheras tonight.
He said this when asked about reports that a ship from the marine robotics company Ocean Infinity is currently en route from Mauritius towards the presumed crash site.
Ship tracking websites list the ship “Armada 78 06’s” destination as “Offshore Australia” and is expected to arrive on Sunday afternoon, which has sparked reports and speculation that Ocean Infinity may start the search even before the contract with Malaysia is signed.
Ocean Infinity ship
This would be the third attempt to search for the missing aircraft, and the second one attempted by Ocean Infinity. The aircraft is believed to be in deep waters of the Indian Ocean about 1,500km west of Perth.
Australia’s 9News.com reported that the search will focus on a 15,000 square kilometre area about 30km from the area previously searched by Ocean Infinity during its previous mission in 2018.
The location for the search area was identified by new analysis by three research groups since the last search operation, AviationSource News reported.
Last December, Loke announced that the cabinet had agreed in principle to Ocean Infinity’s proposal for a new search operation on a “no find, no fee” basis.
“No find, no fee” is a common financial arrangement for maritime salvage operations in which the owner is not liable to pay the finder unless the latter is successful. If successful, however, Ocean Infinity asked to be paid US$70 million (RM311 million).
Flight MH370 departed from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on the night of March 8, 2014, carrying 239 passengers and crew. However, the aircraft mysteriously deviated from its flight path over the South China Sea and turned westward towards the Indian Ocean.
Although most of its communication systems had ceased operating, analysts were able to trace its final transmissions to somewhere in the Southern Indian Ocean.
This would be the third attempt to search for the missing aircraft, and the second one attempted by Ocean Infinity. The aircraft is believed to be in deep waters of the Indian Ocean about 1,500km west of Perth.
Australia’s 9News.com reported that the search will focus on a 15,000 square kilometre area about 30km from the area previously searched by Ocean Infinity during its previous mission in 2018.
The location for the search area was identified by new analysis by three research groups since the last search operation, AviationSource News reported.
Last December, Loke announced that the cabinet had agreed in principle to Ocean Infinity’s proposal for a new search operation on a “no find, no fee” basis.
“No find, no fee” is a common financial arrangement for maritime salvage operations in which the owner is not liable to pay the finder unless the latter is successful. If successful, however, Ocean Infinity asked to be paid US$70 million (RM311 million).
Flight MH370 departed from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on the night of March 8, 2014, carrying 239 passengers and crew. However, the aircraft mysteriously deviated from its flight path over the South China Sea and turned westward towards the Indian Ocean.
Although most of its communication systems had ceased operating, analysts were able to trace its final transmissions to somewhere in the Southern Indian Ocean.
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