Colombia has started an underwater mission to explore a Spanish warship that sank in the Caribbean over 300 years ago. This ship, believed to hold billions of dollars worth of valuable items, is at the center of a major ownership dispute.
The Colombian government found the San José shipwreck in 2015 near the port city of Cartagena. It is also known as a “holy grail of shipwrecks.”
The San José was a 62-gun, three-masted ship and the largest galleon in a Spanish fleet. It was the flagship, believed to be carrying gold, silver, emeralds, and other treasures from the mines of Potosi, Peru.
The ship was traveling from Panama to Colombia when it sank on June 8, 1708. Around 600 people were on board when it went down during a battle with British ships in the War of the Spanish Succession, according to CNN.
Taking pictures of the ship using “non-intrusive” remote sensors
The Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) stated that the initial phase of the expedition will concentrate on taking photographs of the shipwreck using remote sensors that won’t disturb the site. This step aims to pave the way for future explorations. These later missions will involve retrieving historical artifacts from the shipwreck.
The images captured will be utilized to create a catalog of the archaeological findings beneath the sea.
Colombia claim the shipwreck, believed to contain at least 200 tons of gold, silver and emeralds.
Colombian military has shared unprecedented footage of the legendary San Jose galleon shipwreck, which has been hidden underwater for three centuries and is believed to hold… pic.twitter.com/TtaDChiIzS
— ArchaeoHistories (@histories_arch) March 6, 2024
Additionally, ICANH has designated the discovery location as a national “protected archaeological area” to safeguard its scientific and historical significance.
Researchers intend to utilize an underwater vessel equipped with acoustic positioning technologies, along with a remote operation vehicle. These vehicles will carry various sensors and tools capable of descending to the depth of the site.
Culture Minister Juan David Correa highlighted the significance of the government’s efforts during a press conference in Cartagena, where the expedition was launched. He said, “This government is doing something that is unprecedented… exploring the sinking of the galleon as the possibility of understanding history and culture.”
Legal battle between Colombia and US-based marine salvaging company
The discovery of the San José has been a major event for Colombia due to the ship’s treasure of cultural and historical artifacts. These artifacts could offer valuable insights into Europe’s economic, social, and political conditions in the early 18th century.
However, this discovery has also led to a multi-billion dollar legal dispute. Colombia claims it first found the San José in 2015 with the help of international scientists.
A U.S.-based marine salvaging company, Sea Search-Armada (SSA), formerly known as Glocca Morra, disputes this.
SSA argues that they discovered the shipwreck in the early 1980s. They have taken their case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, seeking about $10 billion, which is half the estimated value of the shipwreck’s treasure, as reported by CNN.