Warship halts treasure-hunter Odyssey’s run from Gibraltar: US wreck searcher’s vessel is ordered to dock in Algeciras after latest legal skirmish over massive haul of valuable coins claimed by Spain | A Spanish warship forced a US treasure-hunting vessel to dock in the southern Spanish port of Algeciras on Tuesday, upping the stakes in a long-running dispute over the ownership of gold and silver coins discovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration earlier this year.

The Odyssey Explorer was three nautical miles from the British colony of Gibraltar, where it had remained docked since the discovery of the precious booty in May, when it was approached by a Spanish navy frigate and a Civil Guard patrol boat. “We are a Spanish warship. Do you know you are in Spanish waters?” the frigate’s captain asked.

“We are in international waters,” came the response from Odyssey Explorer.

“Correct your position or we will be obliged to board you,” the Spanish captain responded.

After demanding three times that the Odyssey Explorer head for Algeciras, the frigate and the Civil Guard patrol boat cut across the path of the US vessel, which finally ceded to their demands.

The seizure of the vessel had been expected by Odyssey, which had made certain the world would be informed of what it claims is an illegal operation by Spain. Journalists from 10 media outlets were on board, including one from EL PAÍS.

The seizure of the Odyssey Explorer yesterday follows similar action by Spain against the Ocean Alert, another of Odyssey’s ships, when it left Gibraltar in June.

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After initially refusing to allow Civil Guard officers aboard the ship in Algeciras, the Odyssey crew relented yesterday afternoon, allowing a full inspection to begin. Officers seized memory cards from the cameras and film cameras of reporters on board and confiscated voice recorders. The journalists were told to leave the ship.

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Though Odyssey has refused to identify the vessel — saying only that the site is 180 miles west of Gibraltar — some Spanish historians believe it could be the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, which was sunk by a British fleet off the coast of Portugal in 1804. If that were the case, the Spanish government says it still has a right to the booty because, even though it is located outside of Spanish waters, it is from a Spanish vessel. [Barcelona Reporter Editor’s note: According to international law, the finders are able to keep 90% of the value of the treasure, while the country that ultimately wins ownership of the wreck (perhaps Spain) would retain ownership and be eligible to only receive 10% of the value.]

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