A large container ship is seen at a port in Fujian province. (Photo/Weibo)

Fishermen from a coastal village in eastern China's Fujian province have turned over a large container ship found floating in the Taiwan Straits to the maritime bureau for further investigation.

A fisherman, known locally by his nickname Aodi, found the container vessel on his way back from catching crabs. The 40-year-old, with help from other fishermen, used three boats to tug it back to their hometown of Chiwo village in Lianjiang county, taking six days.

Aodi told Straits News that the ship, which is about 90 meters long and 25 meters wide, was empty and had no crew on it when found.

He also said the ship's cable was broken and that perhaps it had been tugged previously by another ship.

There are less than 2,200 people in the village, most of whom have earned a living via fishing for generations. Villagers usually find ships swept to the village by typhoons, but a ship of this size is rarely heard of, according to fisherman Li Yinbo.

He added that the ship could be valued at around 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) and may still be worth one million yuan if sold as rubbish.

The unclaimed ship has the words ADITAMA6 on its hull, but the fishermen have no idea about its owners or registration region.

The frontier guard post in Chiwo said the vessel has been handed over to the maritime bureau for further investigation.