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Odyssey claims sunken ship

A federal judge recommends granting the salvage company exclusive rights to a shipwreck off the coast of England.

By JAMES THORNER
Published October 11, 2006

TAMPA - Let the treasure hunt begin.

On Tuesday, Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. persuaded a federal judge to recommend granting the Tampa company exclusive rights to salvage a 17th century merchant ship off the southwest coast of England.

Odyssey attorneys said they feared rumors of the unidentified shipwreck could provoke a "war" among rival salvage firms clamoring for a share of potential underwater loot.

"We're out there now," said Odyssey general counsel Melinda MacConnel, attending the 20-minute hearing in a Tampa courtroom. "Now it's a matter of making sure no third party stakes a claim."

Odyssey surveyed the wreck in the summer with a remote-controlled submarine about 1,000 feet below the surface. A camera detected part of a wooden hulk, cannon and other metal objects. The site lies in international waters about 40 miles off Land's End, near a section of the English Channel known as a shipping graveyard.

Given the competitive nature of its business, Odyssey would not disclose the ship's name, national origin or prospective worth of the cargo. Since the ship is more than 300 years old, it's unlikely the heirs of the original owners will turn up.

Getting a federal court to rule in favor of a salvage team - the action Odyssey requested on Tuesday - serves as an announcement to the world that a wreck has been claimed. Odyssey insists its interest lies not just in booty but in the wreck's archaeological value.

In theory, foreign treasure hunters need not obey a U.S. court. But Odyssey attorney Allen Von Spiegelfeld said any salvage team large enough to explore international waters would have ventures in the United States over which American courts hold sway.

Odyssey is a publicly traded company best known for the 2003 discovery of the SS Republic. The gold- and silver-laden ship sank off the coast of Georgia around the time of the Civil War.

Odyssey said it wants to start salvaging the Lands End wreck immediately, assuming the weather cooperates. Artifacts would be flown to Tampa and stored in the company's preservation lab near Tampa International Airport.

[Last modified October 10, 2006, 23:34:11]