Over 43,000km2 of high-priority ocean floor has been mapped in preparation for a deep-water search for MH730.

The remaining bathymetric work in the southern Indian Ocean is to be completed by survey ships Fugro Equator and Zhu Kezhen, supported by China’s Haixun 01 and Bunga Mas 6 of the Malaysian navy.

Further assistance will be provided by Malaysia’s KD MUTIARA, which is currently heading to Western Australia from Lumut.

The mapping is expected to be finished by September in readiness for an underwater investigation undertaken by multinational geotechnical, survey and geoscience specialist, Fugro.