KUALA LUMPUR: More ships may join the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the South Indian Ocean, said Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pic).

The Transport Minister said the Government was currently in discussions with China on the matter, and hoped that such a move would become a reality.

"Right now there are four vessels in the South Indian Ocean.

"We will add more vessels with China's cooperation and hope to increase the number of vessels looking for MH370," he told reporters at the Bandar Tasik Selatan terminal here.

The vessels Go Phoenix, Fugro Equator, Fugro Discovery and Fugro Supporter are currently searching the ocean floor for a sign of the plane.

Malaysia has officially declared the incident as an accident and all 239 people on board presumed dead.

Months of underwater searches have not come up with any discoveries relating to their aircraft, despite some 22,000 sq km searched.