THE search for MH370 will continue tomorrow, amid rumours that the ship searching for the plane has vanished from from tracking screens.

Director-general of Civil Aviation Department, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman told The Star that the vessel, Seabed Constructor was refuelling in western Australia.

“The ship is currently refuelling and restocking supplies at Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, and will be leaving port this Sunday,” he was quoted saying.

Azharuddin said the ship’s crew, which included two Malaysian navy personnel had provided regular progress updates.

“They are very professional and have been very transparent about the complex operation.”

The vessel hired in January turned off its location transponder for three days without explanation. This led to rumours that the ship, property of Ocean Infinity, was missing.

Malaysia has contracted the services of Ocean Infinity on a “no find, no fee” basis, whereby the US firm will get paid only if manages to determine the the location of the wreckage or the aircraft’s flight recorder within 90 days.

The company will be paid US$20 million (RM82 million) for debris found within a 5,000sq km primary search area, US$30 million for debris in a 10,000sq km secondary search area and US$50 million for debris in a 10,000sq km tertiary search area.

MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board in March 2014, en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

An Australian-led search mission was suspended in January last year after investigators scoured and failed to locate the aircraft in a 120,000sq km search area determined via a satellite analysis of the plane’s trajectory. – February 10, 2018.