Chinese patrol ship in new search area: AMSA

Special: Malaysia Airlines plane 'ended' in sea

CANBERRA - Chinese Maritime Safety Administration patrol ship Haixun 01 is in the new search area following advice from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) , the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said in its latest update on Friday.

The AMSA search for any sign of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been shifted to an area north following the ATSB advice.

An international air crash investigation team in Malaysia provided updated advice to the ATSB, which, after examination, determined an area 1,100 kilometers to the northeast of the existing search area is now the most credible lead as to where debris may be located.

The new search area is approximately 319,000 square kilometers, about 1,850 kilometers west of Perth. The depth of the water in the search area is between 2,000 and 4,000 meters. The Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organization (AGO) is re-tasking satellites to capture images of the new area.

According to AMSA, six ships are relocating to the new search area including Australian warship HMAS Success and five Chinese ships.

China's Haixun 01 "is in the search area. HMAS Success is expected to arrive in the search area late tomorrow night," AMSA said.

A U.S. towed pinger locator and Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle have arrived in Perth to assist with location and recovery of the black box, it added.

According to AMSA, weather conditions are better in the revised area and ten aircraft have been tasked for the search.