GUANGZHOU: The salvage of the sunken merchant ship Nan'ao No 1 was delayed on Saturday because of uncertain weather and sea conditions, archaeologists said yesterday.

"Once conditions permit, we will start salvaging the ship from the seabed," said Long Jiayou, director of the Guangdong provincial cultural relics bureau.

The centuries-old vessel is loaded with more than 10,000 pieces of antique porcelain from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).