Spain reclaims $500M shipwreck treasure in Tampa

[Bay_Kat (Premo)]

Guess no "finders, keepers".

TAMPA --
Nearly 17 tons of gold and silver Spanish coins were reclaimed by Spain at MacDill Air Force base Friday, bringing the end to an international legal battle.

U.S. officials turned over the bounty of 19th century coins to the Spanish Embassador. Two C-130 transport planes carrying the treasure left for a Madrid military base just before noon.

Despite late claim by Peru, Spain reclaims $500M shipwreck treasure in Tampa

Interesting story though.

[BOP]

I wonder if Obama apologized to Spain.

[aps45819]

Originally Posted by BOP

I wonder if Obama apologized to Spain.

Since maritime salvage laws say "finders keepers", apparently he apologized 500 million times

[RPMDAD]

Definitely sucks for Odyssey Marine Exploration.

"
Odyssey Marine said the company spent more than $2 million salvaging the treasure.

Spanish officials said they have no plans to reimburse the company for their work, saying there was never any agreement regarding the treasure in the first place. "

Quoted from

Despite late claim by Peru, Spain reclaims $500M shipwreck treasure in Tampa

yeah how can you still claim ownership over a 200 yr old wreck


they Spanish could have giving them a bucket of Gold Coins to cover expenses

that is going to line someones pockets ........ pay for more socialism

this is why I would never report anything found

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by EmptyTimCup

yeah how can you still claim ownership over a 200 yr old wreck


they Spanish could have giving them a bucket of Gold Coins to cover expenses

that is going to line someones pockets ........ pay for more socialism

this is why I would never report anything found

They claim the ship was a naval vessel, NOT a commercial venture.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by huntr1

They claim the ship was a naval vessel, NOT a commercial venture.

Interesting. I wonder where it was taking all those coins and why.

[dustin]

Some interesting reading on this on wikipedia Black Swan Project - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In January 2011, Odyssey Marine claimed that the language used in recently leaked diplomatic cables showed that the US State Department had been involved with negotiations to assist the Spanish government in receiving the treasure in exchange for the return of allegedly stolen artwork to a US private citizen. The US State Department declined comment while Spain denied Odyssey Marine's claim.[23] The Department of State's Office of Inspector General subsequently investigated the charges in response to a request by Representative Kathy Castor of Florida. In March 2011, it determined that it could find no evidence of a connection between the Black Swan case and the negotiations for the return of the artwork in question (a Pissaro painting).

Odyssey will abide by the decision, even though it "flies in the face of all legal precedent," said Melinda MacConnel, vice president and general counsel. MacConnel said the ruling "undermined" the jurisdiction of U.S. courts in naval affairs, and complained that Washington had influenced the case in Spain's favor. "Clearly, the political influences in this case overshadowed the law," she said. MacConnel also expressed concern that the Court's decision will make it more likely that future recoveries of undersea treasures that are associated with sovereign vessels will be performed solely by unscrupulous treasure hunters who will melt down and sell their finds rather than bring them into court for adjudication.