HANOI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese government is instructing the excavation of a sunken ancient ship laden with porcelain products made in the Chinese dynasty of Ming in the 16th century in central Quang Ngai province, according to the provincial authorities on Wednesday.

The ship, whose length is about 25 meters, is now nine meters under the water surface and seven meters away from the seashore.

It was discovered by a local company when it dredged a sea passage to build a deep-water seaport in the province.

The Ming dynasty, which lasted for 276 years (1368-1644), was renowned for ceramics and porcelain.