National
Odyssey told to provide information on treasure find to the Spanish government
By m.p.
Jan 10, 2008 - 9:30 PM

A court in Florida has given Odyssey Marine Exploration 14 days to provide authorities in Spain with all the information the Spanish government has requested on the company’s ‘Black Swan’ treasure find last May. The news came from Attorney James Goold, who is representing the Spanish government in the litigation, and it’s understood both parties are called back to court on 5th March, to confirm if Odyssey has complied with the order.

The treasure of gold and silver coins is said to be worth more than 500 million dollars, and while Odyssey have always maintained the find was made in international waters, Spain’s Ministry for Culture believes it could have been taken from a Spanish vessel.

The information Odyssey must now provide includes the exact location of the find, together with details on the treasure itself and other objects removed from the wreck. They must also give details of authorisations which have been granted. Odyssey have argued in the past that revealing the location could mean a temptation for others to try and recover items from the site.

At the last hearing in the court in Tampa, Florida, Judge Mark A. Pizzo, asked both parties to agree a pact of confidentially, but failure to reach agreement on the guidelines for such a pact meant none was ever agreed.

A spokesperson for the Culture Ministry said on Thursday they were ‘very satisfied’ with the ruling from the judge. They said in a statement that they had never issued authorisation for any type of exploration either of Spanish wrecks or in Spanish waters.