Search for MH370 continues, to cost between RM82m to RM280m if found
11 January 2018 Print page
PUTRAJAYA: The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has resumed, a year after the largest search in aviation history was suspended.
The Malaysian government and United States-based exploration firm Ocean Infinity Limited, today inked a deal to officially continue the search for the missing jet.
The agreement was signed by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman and Ocean Infinity Limited chief executive officer Oliver Plunkett.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the search operations will commence in a new search area of 25,000 square kilometre (sqkm) of the Indian Ocean by mid January.
“The deal was on a “no cure, no fee” whereby debris found within the first 5,000 sq km will be paid US$20 million (RM82 million), for the subsequent 10,000 sq km, a sum of US$ 30 million (RM122 million) will be paid, for another 10,000 sqkm, US$50 million (RM204 million) will be paid, for the last 25,000 sq km and beyond, a total of US$ 70 million (RM280 million) will be paid.
“The sum will only be paid if the debris or debris field is found within 90 days time frame,” he added.
He said the primary mission of Ocean Infinity is to identify the location of the wreckage or debris field and or both of the flight recorders; black box and Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
“They are to present a considerable and credible evidence to confirm the exact location of the items,” he added.
The Norwegian research vessel known as the Seabed Constructor is already on its way to the area identified by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as the most likely crash site.
“As we speak, the vessel is currently on her way to the search area, taking advantage of the favourable weather condition in the South Indian Ocean.
“We have on-board 65 crew including two officers from the Royal Malaysian Navy as the representatives of the Malaysian government,” he added.
On March 8, 2014, flight MH370 with 239 people on board mostly Chinese nationals, had dropped off radar shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, sparking a massive underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean.
The incident is said to be one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries.
After spending more than three years, scouring 120,000 sq km of the Indian Ocean, only three fragments of MH370 have been found.
The fragments that washed up on western Indian Ocean shores included a two-metre wing part known as a flaperon.
Source : http://web.news365.my/content/5926091