The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ship HMAS Toowoomba will depart Fleet Base West near Perth on Saturday to join the international search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the Australian Defense Department announced.

The Anzac-class frigate has been diverted from other operational tasks to join the search. It will carry a S-70B2 Seahawk helicopter which was flown from the RAN's Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross by a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C- 17A Globemaster on Friday night.

HMAS Toowoomba will join the Royal Australian Navy supply ship HMAS Success which remains on station in the search area after leaving Western Australia on March 22. The Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Shield is scheduled to depart from Fleet Base West on Sunday.