Life of Guangzhou - Bad Weather Sets back Ancient Ship Recovery

Bad weather and technical difficulties have delayed the recovery of the historic sunken wreck of the South China Sea No. 1 for at least two months.

Archaeologists were aiming to raise the vessel, built around 800 years ago, from the ocean bed off south China's Guangdong Province this month, but they say a new window of opportunity may open sometime around December 10.

The salvage ship in operation offshore in Guangdong. (www.gdmsa.gov.cn/ photo)

Workers have placed 21 steel beams, each stretching 15 meters and weighing more than five tons, under the ship and another 21 beams could be placed in the next 30 days, said Wu Jiancheng, the Guangzhou Salvage Bureau official heading the operation.

The recovery of the vessel, which was made during Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), started in May when a giant cube was lowered into the sea near Yangjiang.

The 36 beams will form the bottom of a steel structure, which, with the upper part of the ship and its surrounding water and silt, will be raised by crane.

A submerged barge will help support the ship from beneath.

Salvage workers began laying the beams on September 4 but the work was hampered by bad weather and the sand layer of the sea floor.

"Force five to six winds can whip up waves up to 1.5 meters high," said Wu. "We will not hoist the ship until three successive days of no wind are forecast."

The underwater construction of the steel structure had also taken longer than expected, said Wu.

The ship will be moved to a hall in the "Marine Silk Road Museum" in Yangjiang City.