Spanish Shipwreck Treasure Debate Continues In Federal Court

A federal judge in Florida is currently deciding if Florida deep-sea explorers must hand over more treasures from a 200-year-old shipwreck to authorities in Spain.

In February a Spanish military plane flew more than 600,000 silver coins and other artifacts back to the country after winning a five-year legal battle over ownership of the shipwreck from Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration.

While a bulk of the ships discovery was returned Spain is now demanding that the artifacts left behind in Gibraltar be returned including at least 100 silver coins, personal effects of sailors and various pieces of ship equipment.

The frigate Nuestra Senora de Las Mercedes was sunk by British warships in 1804.

In what might be the most insulting part of the case, Spain officials want the Odyssey to pay for their court fees, despite the fact that Spain would not have recuperated the treasure without the company’s direct involvement.

Spain claims that the Odyssey has hidden certain facts from the case in order to conceal part of it’s find, a claim that the crew and company vehemently deny. Odyssey lawyer Melinda MacConnel said Odyssey has not been able to properly inventory the storage crate for years, largely because Spain intervened in the case.

Complicating the lawsuit is the fact that people claiming to be descendants of the ships original owners have sued in Gibraltar court in order to gain rights to the treasure.

Perhaps its my cynical nature but if you lose a ton of treasure during war you shouldn’t get it back, especially when you couldn’t even be bothered to find it on your own dime over a 200-year period.

Do you think the Odyssey crew was ripped off by Spain’s government?