March 28, 2005
HMS Sussex update: more skirmishing off Gibraltar
HMS Sussex has lain undisturbed on the seabed for more than 300 years, but since researchers discovered the ship was carrying billions of pounds of English gold and silver, it has become the focus of a bitter dispute as the Spanish authorities try to frustrate the attempts of a private company to locate it and start salvage work on behalf of Britain.From the Guardian.International law gives UK authorities jurisdiction over the wrecks of British ships wherever they might lie, and this month the UK government gave permission to an American exploration company, Odyssey Marine Exploration, to salvage the Sussex.
But the regional government of Andalucía claims that Odyssey also needs permission from Spain to carry out exploration in Spanish waters and has sent out coastal patrols to disrupt the salvage operation. . .
Posted by David on March 28, 2005 8:05 AM
if the wreck of the Sussex is on the high sea's
(present day charts show this,and the spanish are unable to furnish a different one)there is no question of sovereignty so why is it nessessary to talk to the spanish, at the end of the day all the spanish want is a share, so why cannot the MOD put someone there to stop the disruption of the recovery process
Posted by: Anonymous on July 23, 2005 8:37 AM
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