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.
Various countries and groups, including Spain, the United States, Bolivian indigenous communities, and Colombia, have laid claim to the shipwreck over the years. However, a U.S. court ruled in 2011 that the San José belongs to the Colombian state.
In 2015, former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos described the discovery as the most valuable treasure in human history. Despite sinking 316 years ago due to an attack by British warships, the ship remains remarkably intact, with minimal external interference, according to Colombian officials.
The Colombian government has allocated $1,073,646 (17,962 million pesos) for the recovery efforts, emphasizing the preservation of the Galeón San José's cultural significance and archaeological integrity.
