Overview

• Colombia's government plans to use an underwater robot to extract items of 'incalculable value' from the San Jose galleon, sunk in 1708.
• The expedition, costing over $4.5 million, aims to study the ship's cargo and the life of its 600 crew members.
• Legal and diplomatic disputes have surrounded the shipwreck, with Colombia, Spain, and a U.S.-based salvage company all staking claims.
• The ship is believed to hold 11 million gold and silver coins, emeralds, and other precious cargo from Spanish-controlled colonies.
• The operation seeks to preserve the shipwreck as a patrimonial treasure, emphasizing its historical value over monetary worth.