Colombia announces deep-water expedition to explore shipwreck thought to hold treasure

Colombia’s government on Friday (23 February) announced plans for a deep-water expedition to explore the mythical galleon San José, sunk in the 18th century in the country’s northern Caribbean and believed to contain cargo valued at billions of dollars.

It is the first phase of scientific research into deep waters that aims at collecting information to determine which pieces are suitable and possible to extract.

The wreckage is 600 meters deep in the sea and it sunk in 1708 after being ambushed by an English squadron on its way to Cartagena.

Colombia located the galleon in 2015 but it has since been mired in legal and diplomatic disputes, and its exact location is a state secret.