The ocean has divulged another closely-kept secret, thanks to the U.K. government and the efforts of an American company called Odyssey Marine Exploration. Odyssey has managed to recover an estimated 48 tons of silver from a World War II wreck called the SS Gairsoppa for the British government, who owns the ship's cargo.
In February 1941 the SS Gairsoppa was sunk by a German U-boat 300 miles off the coast of Ireland. A British merchant ship requisitioned by the British government in wartime, the ship was carrying an estimated 240 tons of silver from Calcutta. It sank in less than 20 minutes after a torpedo cut through the ship, taking down both foremast and radio antenna. The ship sank to 15,420 ft (almost three miles) where it sat, undisturbed, for 70 years.
The Gairsoppa was located by the Odyssey research team in the summer of 2011 after the underwater archaeological company was commissioned by the United Kingdom to raise the cargo. On July 18, 2012, they announced that they had raised an amazing 48 tons of silver bars, worth $38 million. While this is only estimated to be 20% of the total cargo, and only represents the first of several loads, it is already the deepest and largest precious metal recovery ever accomplished.
Odyssey initially inspected the site using ROVs [remotely operated vehicles] and removed the bars by surgically cutting through the steel hulls and decks to allow robotic units to access and remove the silver (pictured above), which was then hoisted to the ship, the Seabed Worker, via its 100-ton active heave onboard crane.
What an amazing story! To learn more or to stay updated on their progress, check out Discovery News or take a peek at Odyssey's website (www.shipwreck.net) for press releases or email updates.
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