Colombian authorities are making significant progress in the recovery of the $17 billion shipwrecked San José, which was first discovered almost a decade ago. The Spanish galleon sank in 1708 off the coast near Cartagena, carrying a valuable cargo and 600 men, of whom only 11 survived.
The recovery efforts are being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge, the National Navy's General Maritime Directorate, and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History. The ship, measuring 150 feet long with 64 guns and three masts, was laden with treasures such as 200 tons of silver and emeralds, 11 million gold coins, and porcelain pottery.
