The search and rescue team will begin righting the capsized cruise ship on the Yangtze River at 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT).[Special coverage]
Over 450 people were onboard the Eastern Star when it sank on Monday night after being hit by a tornado in Jianli, Hubei Province.
The incident could become China's deadliest shipping accident in almost seven decades.
The decision was made after leaders at rescue headquarters agreed the rescue plan should be further optimized, said the MOT.
