Uh, good question (heh). I think they're expecting to find the name of the ship painted on the side or something. I wonder if the ship is actually Chinese at all.
Well in those days everything in a sense was unique, The way the boat was built will reveal its origins.
I wonder if the ship is actually Chinese at all.
= = =
Please keep in mind, the Chinese have typically been chronically obsessive bureaucrats for many thousands of years. They probably have records of said ship in quadruplicate, at least.