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From Die Welt

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMEX), pioneers in the field of deep-ocean shipwreck exploration has announced plans to file a written objection to the U.S. Federal Court Magistrate’s recommendation that Spain’s Motion to Dismiss the "Black Swan” case be granted and that the property recovered be returned to Spain.

The recommendation which was filed June 3, 2009 concludes that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case. 

Odyssey brought the "Black Swan” case to federal court in the spring of 2007 after discovering a site in the Atlantic Ocean with over 500,000 gold and silver coins. Spain filed a claim in the case asserting that the cargo came from the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, a Spanish vessel which exploded in 1804.

Despite the absence of a vessel at the site, the District Court Magistrate has indicated that he believes that there is sufficient evidence to confirm that the site is that of the Mercedes and that the vessel and its cargo are subject to sovereign immunity.

"We will object to the Magistrate’s recommendation,” said Melinda MacConnel, Odyssey’s Vice President and General Counsel. "This is clearly a case where there are many relevant issues of fact that have been disputed, including the issue of whether the Mercedes was on a commercial mission and whether the property recovered belonged to Spain.

I presume that the claimants in the case who assert ownership rights by virtue of the fact that their ancestors owned a portion of the cargo will join us in objecting.

From Today's Zaman

Turkey's historical heritage and Blue-Flag beaches have made it a rising star in world tourism.

Its underwater beauty also attracts many tourists each year.

The coastlines of Antalya, Balıkesir, Muğla, Çanakkale and Mersin host rich underwater fauna, underwater caves and wreckages, attracting the attention of many underwater explorers.

Many scuba diving schools can be found in Antalya's Kemer district, which offers different kinds of diving opportunities.

Near the Kemer Marina at a depth of 33 meters, there is a wreckage known as the “Paris shipwreck,” which all divers are encouraged to visit, and off of Tekirova there is an area called the “three islands,” which is an ideal place to perform different types of diving, including cave diving.

Divers are likely to come across seals and schools of tuna in this area.

Since the winds are strong and the waves are high in Kalkan, which is another popular scuba diving area, it is ideal for more advanced divers.

There are many ruins as well as thousands of barracudas and groupers in this area.

The Patara Canyon, which is decorated with corals and sponges, attracts attention with its “lantern wall,” which goes down from 11 meters to 132 meters.

From BBC News

The last American survivor of the Titanic wreck has died in the state of Massachusetts aged 99.

Lillian Gertrud Asplund was five when the ship went down in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. She was the last survivor of the tragedy with actual memories of the sinking on 15 April, 1912.

The two final Titanic survivors live in England but both women were infants when they were rescued and are said to have no memories of the terrible night.

Barbara Joyce West Dainton of Truro was 10 months old and Elizabeth Gladys "Millvina" Dean of Southampton was two months old.


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From Web Newswire

The Japanese midget submarine M-24 has been declared an historic shipwreck under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwreck Act 1976on the 67thanniversary of the attack on Sydney Harbour during World War II.

The announcement was made today by Federal Heritage Minister Peter Garrett and the New South Wales Minister for Planning, Kristina Keneally.

Mr Garrett said that protection under the Act will ensure that the wreck remains intact as a reminder of our vast maritime history.

“The Japanese midget submarine M-24was one of three midget submarines that attacked Sydney Harbour in the late afternoon of 31 May and morning of 1 June 1942.

We know that after firing both torpedoes, the crew of theM-24 made for the harbour entrance and disappeared. We can only speculate on its movements from that point, as we do not know why the midget submarine failed to reach the submarines’ rendezvous point. “

In November 2006 a submarine, thought to be the M-24was located by a team of amateur divers. The sitewas provisionally declared an historic shipwreck and a protected zone was provided to give additional protection while awaiting its positive identification.

“I am pleased to announce that the M-24has been positively identified and is now fully protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976, making it an offence to disturb, damage or remove relics from the wreck.

“Penalties for breaching the Act include up to $50,000 for a body corporate and $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years for an individual,” Mr Garrett said.

Ms Keneally welcomed the Federal Governments decision to declare the M-24 an historic shipwreck under the Commonwealth’s Historic Shipwrecks Act.

“The M-24submarine holds a great deal of historical significance to Australia, NSW and Japan and provides important insights into the historic events of 31 May 1942.,” Ms Keneally said.

Its protection is considered an important responsibility of the Australian nation and the NSW State Government.

“Initially the M24 wreck was protected under an Interim Heritage Order before it was listed on the State Heritage Register in 2007.“Under the NSW Heritage Act, penalties up to $1.1 million and or six months imprisonment apply to any person damaging the site.

The site is also protected by a 500 metre radius no–go zone and 24/7 security monitoring under the joint agreement of the NSW and Commonwealth Government with the support of the Japanese Government."

Digital footage is available of the Royal Australian Navy clearance divers (Department of Defence), providing expert assistance to the NSW Heritage Branch archaeological surveys at the M-24 in 2007

From Visit Montenegro

Montenegrin and U.S. officials visited the research vessel in the Bay of Kotor: The mission of the research vessel “Hercules” in territorial waters of Montenegro is merely the beginning of long-term cooperation on the Montenegrin seabed mapping project in quest for valuable archaeological sites.

The underwater archaeological research project is a sign of fostering good relations between the Ministry of Culture and US Embassy in Montenegro.

Tivat – “The current days-long mission of the research vessel “Hercules” in territorial waters of Montenegro is merely the beginning of long-term cooperation project regarding mapping Montenegrin seabed in quest for valuable archaeological sites – amphorae and aircraft wrecks from different periods,” it is said yesterday in Perast during the visit of Montenegrin and U.S. officials to the American research vessel “Hercules”, which belongs to the RPM Nautical Foundation from Florida.

The staff aboard the vessel presented technical performances of “Hercules”.

The vessel is equipped with cutting edge multi-beam sonar, underwater vehicle with ROV technologies, modern hydrograph software and software for analyzing data received from sonar, high resolution underwater cameras, and dynamic positioning system.

By Cathy Finch - Courier Mail

On July 31, 2005, one of three ships from the 1st Australian Destroyer Squadron of the Royal Australian Navy was given a new mission.

Huge crowds watched as the former HMAS Brisbane was sunk ceremoniously about 5km east of Mudjimba Island, near Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

Her final orders were to rest peacefully. She was to maintain her dignity by forming the base for an artificial reef and later an important conservation park.

Just months after the old warship gurgled 28m down to the ocean's sandy floor, a host of marine wildlife took up quarters.

The new residents were free to choose their own cabin space from spaces left empty by the Brisbane's captain and 332 crew. Decks, galleys and engine rooms made perfect homes and hideaways for hundreds of species of fish and coral.

Fast forward nearly four years and the ex-HMAS Brisbane is considered one of Queensland's best wreck dives.

I am being briefed by the owner and operator of Scuba World, an award-winning diver training facility next door to Mooloolaba's Underwater World. As in any wreck dive, there are potential dangers, and our instructor ensures we are made fully aware of these.

From Western Morning News

A westcountry oceanographer is hoping a £1 million contract to excavate a Dutch shipwreck will be the key to creating world-class scientific laboratories in the region.

Plymouth-based Geosa is to carry out recovery work for the second time, on Rooswijk, a Dutch East India Company trading vessel which sank in the English Channel in 1740.

The Dutch government contract will include surveying, excavation, recovery and conservation of artefacts from the sunken ship.

The firm was also behind the excavation of the bow of King Henry VIII's warship Mary Rose, which included the recovery of the stem of the vessel in 2005. But Captain Nigel Boston, managing director of Geosa, expressed his disappointment that most of the post-excavation would be carried out in Holland.

He argues the UK lacks the right facilities, despite his proposal to build a new marine centre in Plymouth, which has been refused planning permission.

Capt Boston said: "While this project is welcome, it will mean that the bulk of the post-excavation recording and conservation work will have to be carried out in Holland. This is very disappointing as the UK has a wealth of very well-trained archeologists, conservators and related specialists who could handle the work.

"This project highlights our need to be able to redevelop our Plymouth site in order that we can create a number of tenanted laboratories to enable graduates and more-established professionals to flourish in the fields they have been trained for."
 
 

From Undiscovered Scotland

... Perhaps Tongue's most significant moment in history came in early 1746 when the ship Hazard, en route for Inverness, fled into the Kyle of Tongue to evade the HMS Sheerness, a Royal Navy frigate.

It was carrying over £13,000 in gold coins to fund Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebellion, and its crew took the gold ashore in an effort to carry it overland to its destination. 

The Mackays were supporters of the government and their forces caught up with the crew of the Hazard next morning at Lochan Haken, near the southern end of the Kyle of Tongue.

The gold was thrown into the loch by the crew before they were captured, though most of it was later recovered by the government.

What adds significance is the story that when word of this reached Bonnie Prince Charlie he sent 1500 of his men north in an effort to regain the gold, and they were defeated en route.

Some believe that had these men still been available a short time later at the Battle of Culloden the outcome might have been different.

It is more likely that Culloden was so one-sided the missing troops would have made little difference, but who can say for sure ?

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