MH370 Search Gets Petronas Boost

PETRONAS continues to provide technical support and funding for the search-and-recovery (SAR) operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 by deploying an underwater search equipment and a support vessel to the new search zone.

The national oil company will fund $21 million (RM67 million) for deployment of the Prosas Towed Side Scan Sonar and Marine Support Vessel, which will be used for deep-water search.

The two assets, supplied by DRB-HICOM Defense Technologies Sdn Bhd (DEFTECH), will join the search under the Government-Furnished Equipment approach where Malaysian companies are part of the resources to fund the SAR operations.

Prior to this, PETRONAS had consented to release its geo-hazard survey vessel, MV Teknik Putra, between 10 and 16 March 2014 for the initial search of the missing plane at the South China Sea. The vessel had now returned to its routine tasks upon completion of the mission.

“PETRONAS expresses empathy with the pain of the families of the people on board of the missing flight and shall continue to support the SAR operations led by the Malaysian Government, namely the Ministry of Defence”, stated Petronas.