Overview
- Between Nov. 16 and 18, teams working near Cartagena recovered five objects at roughly 600 meters depth using a remotely operated vehicle and navy specialists.
- The haul includes a cannon bearing the word “Sevilla,” a Chinese porcelain cup, three macuquinas (coins), associated porcelain fragments, and sediment samples.
- The items were transferred to a purpose-built laboratory at the Caribbean Oceanographic and Hydrographic Research Center (CIOH) for long-term stabilization and analysis.
- Authorities say the work is part of the state project ‘Hacia el corazón del galeón San José,’ which has mapped about 461,000 square meters of seabed and cataloged 1,138 items.
- The recovery proceeds alongside an active arbitration with U.S. firm Sea Search Armada, which claims discovery rights and seeks about $10 billion, as Spain signals interest under state-vessel protections.