Salvaged ancient shipwreck transferred to its new home

Vessel highlights central role played by Shanghai in Maritime Silk Road

The 150-year-old shipwreck known as Yangtze River Estuary No 2 Ancient Vessel was successfully moved on Friday to a former shipyard that is going to become a museum. It was lifted from the riverbed near Shanghai on Monday morning.

The boat, which dates back to the reign of Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1875) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was carried to the shipyard in Yangpu district by Fenli, the salvage vessel, which placed it in on a saddle-shaped concrete pedestal at Dock No 1 in the shipyard.

Fenli will then open its stern and retreat into the open water in the coming days, leaving the shipwreck alone in the dock, said Lu Wei, deputy director of Shanghai Salvation Company.