Spain files claim over treasure ship
By EvanHunter
@EvanHunter (4026)
United States
May 31, 2007 6:04pm CST
TAMPA, Fla.USA - The Spanish government has filed claims in U.S. federal court over a shipwreck that a Florida firm found laden with colonial-era treasure, an attorney said Thursday.
If the vessel was Spanish or was removed from that country's waters, any treasure would belong to Spain, said James Goold, an attorney representing the government.
The company has previously said Odyssey would notify all claimants once it conclusively determined the ship's identity. Odyssey said it was not found in Spanish territorial waters.
The company announced two weeks ago that it had discovered a shipwreck containing 500,000 gold and silver coins somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. The Tampa-based company said the site was outside any country's territorial waters but would not give the exact location or name of the ship.
If it was in international waters than Spain has no right to claim it. I have mixed opinions on this subject and I feel that Spain has very little right to claim any colonial era gold. How do you feel about this subject?
1 person likes this
1 response
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
2 Jun 07
this is already a matter where international law applies. i cannot honestly give a good opinion on this. but i know that it is true that any flag carrier vessel is considered still a part of the country of origin wherever it may arrive or be lost or travel. if that vessel can be truly established to be of spanish origin, i believe that they have the right to lay claims for it. i am led to think that this vessel was traversing the seas during the centuries when the conquistadores were still very active. they were composed of spain, portugal and britain then. the philippines was under the spanish rule for more than 333 years. i have a little knowledge of this because of the history classes that we had while i was still a student.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Thank you for your reply and adding to the discussion. I have mixed feelings on this subject mainly because of all the greed that cause native americans to suffer. I would think that this might bring an eye sore towards the way spain (as many other nations) acted back than to still be greedy even today to get their hands on the treasure that was stolen so long ago.
1 person likes this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
14 Jun 07
yes, we can say that spain should best give it up. i believe that the finder will keep a certain percentage here if it is proven that it is really theirs. if the americans are the ones who found the treasure, then the americans will definitely get their share of it.
by the way, thanks for the best response.
