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The government of Colombia has declared intentions to conduct a deep-sea expedition in search of the legendary ship San José, which sank in the 1700s and is rumored to hold valuable cargo worth billions of dollars.
It is estimated that the vessel contains 11 million coins made of gold and silver, as well as emeralds and other valuable goods from Spanish colonies. If the ship is ever found, these treasures could be worth billions of dollars.
This marks the initial stage of a scientific investigation focused on exploring the depths of the ocean in order to gather data and determine which parts are feasible and viable for extraction. The sunken remains are located 600 meters below the surface.
In 2015, Colombia discovered the galleon’s whereabouts, but it has since been entangled in legal and diplomatic conflicts, and its precise coordinates are confidential.
The Colombian government has announced plans to spend approximately $4.5 million this year on an archaeological investigation of a 62-gun, three-masted galleon that sunk in 1708 while en route to Cartagena after being attacked by an English fleet.
During a symposium on the galleon held in Cartagena on Friday, Alhena Caicedo Fernández, the general director of the Colombian Institute of Archeology and History (ICANH), stated that the Colombian government has no plans to collaborate with private companies during the initial stage of the investigation.
The journey would commence in the spring, contingent upon weather conditions.
The sunken remains of the Spanish ship San Jose can be found on the ocean floor near Cartagena, Colombia.
Rear Admiral and oceanographer Hermann León Rincón informed the press that the mission will require the deployment of robotic technology, which will be linked to a Navy vessel. The robot will then navigate with the aid of cameras and meticulously document its movements, ultimately aligning with a geostationary satellite.
In 2021, Colombia obtained a robotic system with the ability to descend to a depth of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet).
Archaeologist Carlos Reina Martínez, who heads the submerged cultural heritage team at ICANH, stated that the mission aims to uncover the way of life for the 600 passengers on the sunken boat and to analyze aspects such as daily routines, cargo, weaponry, and trade goods from the colonial period in America.
Juan David Correa, the minister of culture for Colombia, stated that it is now necessary to declare the heritage aspects of the galleon’s remnants as valuable. He emphasized that the worth of the shipwreck lies in its cultural significance, rather than its monetary value. “The true treasure is in its historical significance.”
There has been a legal dispute in the United States, Colombia, and Spain regarding the ownership of the sunken treasure aboard the ship.
The government of Colombia announced on Thursday that it has initiated arbitration proceedings against Sea Search Armada, a collective of American investors, over the economic rights to the San José. The company is seeking $10 billion, which they believe represents 50% of the value of the galleon treasure that they allegedly discovered in 1982.
Source: independent.co.uk
