BEIJING, March 10 -- A Chinese search vessel is expected to arrive by 20:00 Beijing time Monday at the site where a Malaysian aircraft carrying 12 crew members and 227 passengers, including 154 Chinese, lost contact early on Saturday.

The vessel was within 70 nautical miles from the site at 16:00, captain Peng Jianbo told Xinhua by satellite phone.

The vessel is equipped with searchlights, search radar and night vision goggles and is capable of search and rescue at night.