National
Court asks Spain and Odyssey Marine to settle differences on treasure find
By m.p.
Mar 6, 2008 - 10:12 PM

A court in Florida has asked the Spanish government and Odyssey Marine Exploration to settle their differences on shared evidence in the ‘Black Swan’ treasure case, a find in May last year of gold and silver coins said to be worth more than 500 million dollars. The two parties are in litigation on the find, and while Odyssey has always maintained that it was made in international waters, Spain believes it could have been taken from a Spanish vessel.

Sources at Spain’s Ministry for Culture have denied to the EFE news agency news which has appeared in the press in the United States that the Tampa judge, Mark A. Pizzo, at the hearing on Wednesday gave the two parties until this Friday to come to an agreement.

They said they received written notification this Thursday of a ruling by the US District Judge, Steven D. Merryday, that Odyssey must ‘quickly and satisfactorily’ provide the information which has been requested to allow Spain to exercise any possible rights it may have on the find.

It follows a previous ruling on 10th January ordering Odyssey to provide Spain with all the information it had requested on the company’s ‘Black Swan’ treasure find . At that time, Odyssey were told to provide details on the exact location, the treasure itself and any other objects removed from the wreck, together with the authorisations which have been granted.