Shock MH370 discovery: Ships trawling the seabed for missing Malaysia Airlines plane discover two huge structures off the Australian coast

In this March 31, 2014 file photo, HMAS Success scans the southern Indian Ocean, near the coast of Western Australia, as a Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion flies over, while searching for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Authorities combing through the Indian Ocean for remains of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have discovered two huge structures on the sea bed.

Crews have been searching for the aircraft since it vanished more than four years ago but have had little luck in finding any remains.

Two large objects were found during the global search for the missing plane, which was carrying 239 people, off the coast of Western Australia.

Authorities combing through the Indian Ocean for remains of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have discovered two huge structures (pictured) on the sea floor

The two shipwrecks discovered have been identified as 19th century merchant sailing vessels which are believed to have been carrying cargoes of coal.

The wrecks were found 2300km off the coast at depths between 3700 and 3900 metres, roughly 36km apart, in May and December 2015.

The Western Australian Museum analysed sonar and video data taken by the searchers, and say the ships were on the Roaring 40s trade route.

The two shipwrecks discovered (pictured) have been identified as 19th century merchant sailing vessels which are believed to have been carrying cargoes of coal

Experts believe one of the ships had a wooden hull and while the other ship had an iron hull. 

A 'mystery chest' was also found on board one of the wrecks, however it was since identified as a water tank. 

One of the ships appears to have sunk as a result of a catastrophic event such as an explosion, which was common in the transport of coal cargoes, maritime archaeology curator Ross Anderson said.

The second wreck was more intact, lying upright on the seabed.

'Historical research into all 19th century merchant ships that disappeared in international waters is incomplete so we cannot conclusively determine identity of the individual ships,' Dr Anderson said.

'However, we can narrow the possibilities to some prime candidates based on available information from predominantly British shipping sources.'

The Australian, Malaysian and Chinese governments called off search in January 2017, almost three-years after MH370 disappeared but Ocean Infinity (pictured) continued the search

Both ships likely carried crews of between 15 and 30 men.

Sometimes captains brought their wives and children, and both vessels may have carried additional passengers, the museum said.

'Then, as now, the disappearance of so many lives would have had a devastating impact on maritime families and communities,' Dr Anderson said according to ABC News.   

 No transmissions were received from the aircraft after the first 38 minutes of the flight but it is believed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean

On board the doomed MH370 flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing were six Australians, however the hope for any survivors dwindled years after the aviation disaster on March 8, 2014. 

No transmissions were received from the aircraft after the first 38 minutes of the flight but it is believed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean. 

Ocean Infinity, an American technology company, are the current search crew who have explored 1,300 square kilometres per day since January, hoping to find the plane.

On board the doomed MH370 flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing were six Australians and little has been found during the four year search