China sets up working group to guide icebreaker's 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)

China's oceanic administration on Friday set up a working group to manage icebreaker Xuelong's search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.  [Special coverage]

Xuelong (Snow Dragon) is set to head for the southern Indian Ocean before 6 p.m. Friday local time from the western Australian port of Fremantle, where it arrived to resupply on Friday morning.

It will take the icebreaker about four days to arrive at the search area in the southern Indian Ocean, more than 1,000 nautical miles from Fremantle, where satellite spotted possible MH370 debris on Thursday .

Xuelong left Shanghai on Nov. 7, 2013 for China's 30th scientific expedition to Antarctica. The expedition was scheduled to last for 155 days, covering 31,500 nautical miles over its entire course. The team was expected to return home in April.

More than 250 people were onboard the vessel. Some people will leave the Xuelong at Fremantle, the SOA said.