Colombia to recover legendary shipwreck Colombia is embarking on a deep-water expedition to recover the Spanish galleon San José, known as the “holy grail of shipwrecks”, which sank in 1708 carrying treasure believed to be worth up to $20 billion Portobelo Cartagena COLOMBIA 200km 125 miles CARIBBEAN SEA Sinking site Rosario Islands Baru Peninsula Cartagena COLOMBIA 100km 60 miles Explosion of San José by maritime artist Samuel Scott FINAL VOYAGE May 28, 1708: San José – flagship of Spanish treasure fleet that helps fund Philip V in War of Spanish Succession, sets sail from Portobelo, in modern Panama Jun 8: Ship ambushed off Cartagena by British squadron led by Admiral Charles Wager (above) Ship sinks after powder magazines detonate during battle – only 11 of 600 crew survive TREASURE Ship believed to be carrying six years worth of accumulated treasure, including silver and gold from mines in Peru, chests full of Colombian emeralds and millions of pesos in gold and silver coins EXPEDITION 4.5 million operation will use Seaeye lynx (above) – remotely operated underwater vehicle able to descend to depth of up to 1,500 metres King Philip V Spanish galleon Treasure lost after blast breaks off ship’s bow DEBRIS FIELD 600m deep Colombian Navy pictures show gold coins, cannons, pottery and other valuable items around shipwreck SAN JOSÉ Length: 38.9m Beam: 11,6m Armament 64 guns Displacement 1,037 tonnes LEGAL DISPUTE Ownership battle underway at UN’s Permanent Court of Arbitration between Colombia – which discovered wreck in 2015 – and U.S. salvage company Sea Search Armada* – which claims it found wreck first, in 1981 Sea Search Armada demands $10 billion – half estimated value of wreck Spain argues San José is military vessel and therefore is still Spanish property under UNESCO convention Indigenous groups and local descendants of Afro-Caribbean communities argue they are entitled to reparations because their ancestors mined treasure *Originally named Glocca Morra Sources: AP, El País, Todo a Babor, Colombian Government Pictures: Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Saab © GRAPHIC NEWS