Nanhai IIsalvage operation set to go

Salvage work is expected to begin this year on the Nanhai II, an ancient ship discovered last May off the coast of Nan'ao county of Shantou, Guangdong province, a local relics official said yesterday.
The ship is believed to be the second-largest sunken cargo vessel discovered in China, after Nanhai I, a Song Dynasty (1127-1279) craft that was retrieved from the ocean floor near Yangjiang city last year.
"Plans to recover the entire ship this year have been submitted to the provincial government and State Administration of Cultural Heritage for approval," Xin Guo'an, director of the relics department under the Shantou culture, radio, television and press bureau, said.
Xin estimated the salvage work would cost up to 60 million yuan ($8.5 million).
"In addition to government financing, we also welcome donations," Xin told China Daily.
A maritime museum is also planned to be built in coastal Nan'ao to display the relics, he said.
"The ship and its relics are important to the research of the ancient Silk Road's maritime history and traditional Chinese porcelain," Xin said.
Porcelain artifacts salvaged from the ship are believed to have been made in eastern Guangdong - one of China's key porcelain-production centers, he said.
Local fishermen retrieved most of the 250 porcelain pieces already collected, Xin said.
Some 5,000 Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) ceramic works were discovered during initial surveys of the ship last year.
Xin estimated there could be more than 10,000 relics still onboard.
Source: China Daily