Shipwrecks have long captured the imagination of treasure hunters, historians, and everyday folks alike, blending adventure with the allure of lost riches. Recently, two prominent stories have emerged, both illuminating the exciting yet contentious nature of shipwreck discoveries and the debates over their ownership and fate.
The first tale takes us back to the tumult of World War I. A diary handed down through three generations of one family was instrumental in locating the wreck of the German submarine UC-18, which sank during a battle with the British Q-ship, Lady Olive, off the coast of Jersey. The importance of this discovery is highlighted by the fact it was the only known battle where both a navy ship and submarine sunk each other, according to underwater filmmaker Karl Taylor.
Henrietta Sandford of Helston shared her great-uncle James Simpson’s diary with divers searching for the UC-18, which had been shrouded in mystery following the incident. The document detailed actions on the morning of February 19, 1917, when UC-18 attacked the Lady Olive. This pivotal moment set off both engagement and eventual tragedy, as the British crew counterattacked, leading to the submarine’s destruction.
Despite skepticism from some historians about the U-boat’s fate, Simpson’s firsthand accounts bolstered the claim of its sinking. "James's version of events and the way he wrote about it indicated the crew were telling the truth," remarked Taylor. His insights helped rule out areas where the U-boat may or may not have rested, due to the geographic markers (or lack thereof) mentioned in the diary.
After four years of searching, divers finally discovered the UC-18 at over 230 feet deep, approximately 50 miles from the Jersey coast. The excitement surrounding this recovery means future generations will be able to watch the documentary detailing the find. ", the documentary titled The Hunt for Lady Olive and the German Submarine is set to air on BBC Four soon, allowing viewers to glean insights not only about naval encounters but also about the rich personal narratives entwined with historical events.
Meanwhile, another shipwreck story is capturing global attention, one involving the richly laden San José, often referred to as the Holy Grail of shipwrecks. This Spanish galleon sank off Colombia’s coast over 300 years ago, taking with it treasures estimated to be worth between $7 billion and $18 billion today. The precious cargo included gold, silver, and emeralds, tantalizing estimations of immense wealth.
With multiple parties—Colombia, Spain, indigenous groups, and even treasure-hunting corporations—laying claim to the San José, the battle for ownership has turned litigious. The case is currently being heard by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, where the stakes are astronomical. The Colombian government wishes to preserve the wreck and display its relics within museums, emphasizing cultural heritage over monetary gain. Conversely, the treasure hunters envision monetary rewards should they be permitted to recover the cargo.
Carla Rahn Phillips, a historian who studies maritime conflicts and treasures, lamented the complexity of the situation: “I see no easy way out of this,” she noted. “Everyone involved has legitimate claims, but there’s no straightforward resolution.”
Notably, indigenous groups assert their entitlement over the treasures stored aboard the San José, arguing it stemmed from the plundered mineral wealth of their territories, with representatives like Samuel Flores of the Qhara Qhara people demanding restitution from the Spanish for wealth taken centuries ago.
The clash over the San José raises larger questions about how society values historical wrecks. While treasure hunters focus on commercial potential, archaeologists like Juan Guillermo Martín argue for responsible stewardship of these sites, advocating for their preservation as archaeological contexts. Martín stresses the significance of retaining the narrative tied to shipwrecks, maintaining, "the treasure is part of the archaeological narrative and should be left undisturbed.”
This situation speaks to the broader approach to handling maritime heritage, which is increasingly becoming contentious. Contrasting viewpoints reveal the layered stories behind these underwater sites, from graveyards to treasure troves. Experts often refer to the San José as just one among millions of shipwrecks scattered across the ocean floor. Who gets to claim, recover, or preserve these naval artifacts remains one of the most pressing questions of our maritime legacy.
The Izaro, another shipwreck—this one from 1907—has recently resurfaced near St Bees on England's shores, sparking local interest and discovery as its boilers and keel emerged from the sand on low tides. This wreck is less contentious; local governing bodies know well about the remnants of the Izaro, which smashed against rocks during poor visibility. Local historian Doug Sim detailed how, upon inspection, the ship’s structure revealed its age and emphasized how the cargo was extracted by workmen over time, preserving its historical point without the intense disputes seen in other high-stakes recoveries.
Whereas the San José attracts global interest with its fabled wealth, the Izaro serves as a regional historical curiosity, showcasing how shipwrecks can symbolize varying stakes from the personal to the amazing, compounded by the narratives of those involved, both past, and present.
Legal frameworks for such disputes remain muddled at best; the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea mingles with the 2001 UNESCO Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention to portray cultural sites only superficially. Countries like Colombia and the US have yet to ratify international agreements on wreck ownership, sometimes leading parties to interpret ownership rather than law.
Maritime archaeologists increasingly argue the damages of salvaging these wrecks can outweigh their reveals; the primary goal should be preserving the stories. For many observers, this speaks volumes about how society ought to treat its maritime history—not as mere resources to exploit but as cultural legacies to understand and honor.
These twin narratives of the UC-18 and the San José highlight the complex dynamic between treasure hunting and historical preservation. They serve as reminders of the rich history contained within our oceans, beckoning explorers and scholars alike to tread carefully for treasures are not only gold and silver but are wrapped within human stories deserving respect.
