The news feeds on this site are independently provided by Adfero Limited © and do not represent the views or opinions of the World Gold Council.

Thursday, 21st August 2008 (3657 views)

Peru has now entered the dispute over a shipwreck carrying millions of dollars worth of gold which was discovered by a US company, reports Reuters.

Already involved in the dispute is Spain which claims the sunken ship is a Spanish warship named La Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes which succumbed to the waves in 1804.

Peru has filed a claim asking for all information on the ship to be turned over as it believes the treasure on the boat came from the South American country.

Last year, the US company Odyssey Marine Exploration discovered the ship and flew the gold - which has been estimated to be worth $500 million (£266.8 million) - back to Tampa, Florida.

On hearing the news that Peru had filed a claim, Odyssey's chief executive Greg Stemm said: "We believe that Peru's filing raises a significant ... question relating to whether a former colonial power or the colonised indigenous peoples should receive the ... financial benefit of underwater cultural heritage."

Peru became a colony of Spain in the 1530s until the declaration of independence on July 28th, 1821.

 

« Back to Gold News stories