Chinese icebreaker Xuelong to head for MH370 search

The Chinese icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, awaits orders for the search of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 at the port of Perth, a southwestern port city of Australia, March 20, 2014. (Xinhua/Tang Zhijian)

Chinese icebreaker Xuelong is set to head for the southern Indian Ocean on Friday to search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.[Special coverage]

Upon arrival at the western Australian port of Fremantle for replenishment on Friday morning, the long-serving Antarctic research vessel received orders from the State Oceanic Administration of China to join the hunt.

Xuelong's captain, Wang Jianzhong, said 87 crew members will participate in the mission and the ship is trying to store as many supplies as possible.

[Read more: Australia locates possible debris of missing flight ]