Colombia has initiated the first phase of an underwater expedition aimed at exploring the wreck of a Spanish warship that sank in the Caribbean Sea over 300 years ago.
Wreck of the San José at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. (Photo: Colombian Armada)
Discovered in 2015 off the coast of the port city of Cartagena by the Spanish government, the San José ship is often dubbed the “Holy Grail.” This three-masted vessel, equipped with 62 cannons, was the flagship and the largest warship in the Spanish fleet. The San José was carrying gold, silver, emeralds, and many other precious goods valued at approximately $20 billion from the mines in Potosí, Peru. On June 8, 1708, while en route from Panama to Colombia, the ship sank with 600 people on board during a battle with British vessels amid the War of Spanish Succession.
The initial phase of the expedition focuses on capturing images of the ship using non-invasive remote sensing, according to the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH). Results from the preliminary expedition may pave the way for subsequent explorations, including the recovery of archaeological materials from the wreck. The photographs will be used to create an inventory of the archaeological discoveries on the seabed.
ICANH has also declared the site of the shipwreck a “protected archaeological area” to preserve its scientific value. Researchers plan to use underwater vessels equipped with sonar technology, as well as remotely operated vehicles with multiple sensors and tools capable of descending to the wreck’s depth. “The government is exploring the shipwreck process to understand history and culture,” said Colombian Minister of Culture Juan David Correa during a press conference on May 22.
The discovery of the San José wreck is significant for Colombia due to the valuable historical and cultural artifacts on board, as well as the insights they may provide regarding the economic, cultural, and political landscape of Europe in the early 18th century. However, the wreck has also sparked a fierce legal battle. Colombia asserts that it first discovered the San José wreck in 2015 with the assistance of international scientists. However, a U.S. salvage company named Sea Search-Armada (SSA), previously known as Glocca Morra, claims they were the first to discover the wreck in the early 1980s.
SSA is engaged in a legal battle with the Colombian government at the Permanent Court of Arbitration to claim ownership of $10 billion, roughly half the estimated value of the treasure aboard. The sinking of the San José and its accompanying cargo caused financial difficulties for many merchants across Europe and the Americas, according to a report by SSA.
