The underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will be expanded, intensifying a scouring of the ocean floor to cover a much larger area.

Australia has hosted a meeting with Malaysia and China to determine the way forward in the search for the plane.

Sorry, this video has expired Deep sea search for MH370 expanded ( Kerrin Binnie )

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss says more meetings will commence on Wednesday in Canberra with international experts to analyse all the data and information collected so far.

Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 with 239 people aboard and is believed to have inexplicably diverted to the Indian Ocean and crashed.

A total of 4.64 million square kilometres of ocean has been searched, but no sign of wreckage from the plane has been found so far.

Last week, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that an intensive aerial search for surface wreckage would officially end, with ships also moving out of the remote search zone.

Mr Truss says one of the key elements will be to undertake more detailed oceanographic mapping of prospective search areas, most of which has never been mapped before.

"For the next stage involving sonar and other autonomous vehicles, potentially at very great depths, we need to have an understanding of the ocean floor to be able to undertake that kind of search effectively and safely," he said.

A dedicated team of vessels from Australia, Malaysia and China will continue the search in the new phase, and an Australian P-3 Orion jet will also be available to follow-up any leads.

Mr Truss says meetings will also be held to look at obtaining specialist deep sea equipment for the search.

"It's possible that some of it may be owned by navies or governments around the world, but it's likely that the majority will have to be provided from the private sector," he said.

Sorry, this video has expired Australia, China and Malaysia to continue the search for MH370 ( Political editor Catherine McGrath )

"We're looking at calling tenders for a single operator to maintain and lead in the new elements of this search."

Mr Truss also says it is intended that the Joint Agency Coordinating Centre, which has been organising the search, will be moved from Perth to Canberra.

"This is to bring the centre closer to the high-level representatives of Malaysia and China and other countries who are interested in the search," he said.

"However, the base of the operations will obviously still be from Perth.

"The centre would be moved back to Perth in the event of there being some event which may require it to be reactivated in Perth."

Ocean Shield crew's morale 'fantastic'

The commander of Australian defence vessel Ocean Shield says the crew on board remains in high spirits and is still hopeful of finding the plane.

The ship has returned to port in Western Australia to take on supplies after five weeks at sea.

It has been towing the Bluefin-21 underwater vessel, which has been searching the sea bed for signs of the plane.

It will return to the search area in a few days, following software upgrades to the Bluefin-21's scanner.

Commander James Lybrand says the morale on board has been "fantastic".

"We've got a very enthusiastic team of professionals," he said.

"Of course we're disappointed that we didn't find anything but the focus really has been on trying to find some answers for MH370.

"And whilst people have that in their mind we are very happy with our work to date."