Colombia Designates ‘Holy Grail’ Of Shipwrecks Believed To Carry Merchandise Worth Billions As Protected

Daily Caller ^ | May 23, 2024 | ILAN HULKOWER

[Red Badger]

The Republic of Colombia announced Wednesday in a press release that they designated the wreckage of the San Jose galleon as a “Protected Archaeological Area.“

The Colombian government called the San Jose wreckage “one of the most important of the colonial period in America” and announced they were also launching a multiphase research project around the ship, the press release reads.

The San Jose, a ship belonging to the Spanish crown, was sunk by the British navy in 1708 with only a few of its 600-strong crew surviving the incident, CBS News reported. The ship was reportedly believed to be carrying 200 tons of gold coins, silver and chests of emeralds worth billions today

The wreckage has been object of adventurers for years and was dubbed the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, the outlet noted. Colombia reportedly announced that they found the long-lost remains of the galleon back in 2015.

The finding of the ship sparked a wave of claims over its remains. Spain laid claim to it based on a United Nations (UN) convention Columbia is not a signatory of, and Indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians have claimed the riches on the San Jose belong to them, CBS News reported. Sea Search Armada, a U.S. salvage business, has reportedly claimed they discovered the vessel over 40 years prior and has sought financial compensation of $10 billion through the UN’s Permanent Court of Arbitration. Columbia’s government has insisted on laying claim to it for scientific and cultural purposes, according to the outlet.

The Colombian government observed that their declaration of the wreckage as protected marked a “historical milestone for the management of the country’s submerged cultural heritage, being the first protected archaeological area in maritime environments and one of the few in the world in waters 600 meters deep,” the press release reads.

[Red Badger]

How many Miles to the Galleon Ping!...................

[dfwgator]

If only Mel Fisher were still alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7jey7YKYp0

I remember being obsessed about this when this came out.

[Red Badger]

They should recover whatever is there, put it in a museum so everybody can enjoy it, and then they can ALL fight over it.............

[z3n]

Well, I guess columbia is the authority for designating protected locations in international waters I guess they have the right to use force to enforce it too. heh

[Red Badger]

If it was so important, why didn’t THEY go looking for it?..................

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red Badger.

• 'Holy Grail of shipwrecks' to be exhumed off Colombia with $20B sunken treasure [11/06/2023]
• Colombian army shares pictures of shipwreck carrying billions in lost treasure, including gold, silver and emeralds [06/08/2022]
• Robot sub finds 'holy grail of shipwrecks' with treasure worth billions [05/23/2018]
• Treasure Hunters Wanted: to Retrieve Sunken Gold From 18thC Spanish Galleon [07/24/2017]
• Colombia works to salvage Spanish treasure ship loaded with estimated $1 billion in gold, jewels [07/06/2017]
• Colombian Treasure Find Could Shed Light on Spain's Colonial Past but Spark Legal Battles [12/05/2015]

[Georgia Girl 2]

Mr. GG2 had an emerald from the Atocha. We kept it in the gun safe for years. We had no luck selling it. He finally had Kim Fisher who now runs the museum and operations sell it for him on consignment in their store. It brought about 20% of what it was supposed to be worth. I guess the Emerald market is not that great.

[jimtorr]

I was in Key west in 1987 when the Fisher group were parceling up much of the treasure, to be given to investors. They had a museum-type facility, for which they charged admission for tourists. On the day I walked through there were piles of silver ingots everywhere. The more valuable items were in glass cases, on display.

There were quite a number of armed guards standing around.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes, that’s where Mr. GG2 had his emerald on consignment. He knows Kim Fisher because they wanted to use some of Mr.GG2’s prototype LRL technology to look for another galleon. He just never had the time to devote to it. He did the original survey on Oak Island for the previous owners and he told them there was a silver target in the swamp but nowhere else. I think they recently found something that was in the swamp.

[PIF]

The Colombian government called the San Jose wreckage “one of the most important of the colonial period in America” and announced they were also launching a multiphase research project around the ship, the press release reads.

—
During which they will remove the treasure ashore, as it needs curating - some of which will go into a museum, most will go into various politicians pockets, after viscous and bloody infighting.

[PIF]

Next time grab a black opal from Australia which can be worth up to US$43,000 per gram.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes those are likely much more rare than emeralds.