MH370: The search area will be doubled
By Sharon Petersen Wed Apr 15, 2015
Australian, Chinese and Malaysian governments have today vowed to continue with search efforts for MH370. If the current planned search area reveals no trace of the aircraft, an additional 60,000 square kilometres will be added to the underwater search area.
More than 60 per cent of the initial 60,000 square kilometre priority search area has been searched . If the search continues at the current pace with no delays, the planned initial search area should be completed by May 2015.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading the underwater search for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean as requested by the Malaysian Government.
An image of the sea floor where the search continues. Picture: ATSB
In addition to locating the aircraft, the underwater search aims to map the MH370 debris field in order to identify and prioritise the recovery of specific aircraft components, including flight recorders, which will assist with the investigation.
Australia has committed to contribute up to $89.9 million across two years from 2014-15 to the search. This funding includes $27.9m to the Department of Defence for search costs; $2m to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development for the costs of establishing the Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre; and up to $60m million to the ATSB. It is unclear exactly how much the search has collectively cost so far.
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Ship Movements
At the time of report the Fugro Equator is moored at Kwinana, south of Perth. The Fugro Discovery is in the search area and the Fugro Supporter en-route to the search area. The GO Phoenix is currently moored at Fremantle.
Bad weather and equipment failure continues to plague the search. 
Weather continues to be a problem in the search area Picture: ATSB
See what the ocean floor looks like where the aircraft may lie
On January 29th 2015, the Malaysian Government formally declared the disappearance of MH370 an accident, and stated all on board must be presumed dead. This declaration, as outlined by the Montreal Convention allows compensation payments to be made to the passengers next of kin.
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