KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has confirmed that the renewed search for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) has begun.
He said British marine robotics company Ocean Infinity had started what would likely be the final search for MH370 despite not having finalised a contract with the government.
"We have been given principal approval for the search to resume, but we are still finalising the details for the contract to be signed."
"Nevertheless, we welcome the proactiveness of Ocean Infinity to search for MH370 as this is great news for all the victims’ next of kin," he said in a press conference after launching an E-Licensing platform for aviation personnel here on Tuesday (Feb 25).
Loke said the company had given its assurance to the Transport Ministry that the search would produce positive results by utilising data from previous searches.
He added that this new search effort would not go on indefinitely, with its period to be finalised after the contract between the ministry and Ocean Infinity is signed.
Loke’s comments come after it was reported that Ocean Infinity’s deep-water support vessel Armada 7806 arrived at a new search zone in the Indian Ocean 1,200 miles off Perth, Australia.
The vessels, which arrived over the last weekend, reportedly began deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) within hours of their arrival at the site and have commenced detailed scans of the ocean floor.
This new search effort comes after the Cabinet gave approval to receive bids to restart the search for MH370 in December, which disappeared with all 239 people on board over a decade ago in March 2014.
