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Ship with illegal taken artefacts seized

A Lebanese expert has been called to Limassol to examine whether confiscated artefacts seized from the "Odyssey Explorer" last week were illegally taken from a shipwreck, officials said on Dec 28, 2015. Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said it was not sure if the artefacts had been taken inside the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus or that of Lebanon, so an expert had been called in. The fate of the ship and its cargo depended on the outcome of investigations, including those undertaken by experts, as well as the attorney general. Cypriot authorities haave confiscated the cargo from a Bahamas-flagged ship suspected of illegal treasure-hunting and questioned the crew. Following a tip-off police, assisted by antiquities department and customs officials, boarded the vessel and seized 57 crates containing ancient artefacts. Police was trying to determine whether the ship had a permit to search for antiquities. If not, the crew could face charges of illegal treasure-hunting and illegal possession of antiquities. The antiquities found on board the ship date back to the 18th century. The items had been documented and numbered more than 600, mostly porcelain vessels which appeared to be from a sunken ship. Efforts were underway to discover their origin but it has already been determined that they are not Cypriot.

Police probe as antiquities found in ship docked in Cyprus

Antiquities, dated back to the 18th century, have been found on board the American vessel “Odyssey Explorer”, which is docked in the port of the south coast town of Limassol, Transport, Communications and Works Ministry Permanent Secretary Alecos Michaelides has told CNA. Replying to CNA questions Michaelides, said that the cargo, which has been confiscated will be fully inspected on Thursday, by Antiquities Department officers. He said the Department had received information about the cargo and that the Foreign Ministry was also informed that the American vessel “Odyssey Explorer” had been located close to Cyprus` shores and that there were suspicions it carried antiquities on board. The vessel, which is now docked in Limassol port, has been searched and “indeed antiquities dated approximately to the 18th century have been found,” Michaelides added. http://famagusta-gazette.com/police-probe-as-antiquities-found-in-ship-docked-in-cyprus-p31735-69.htm

Survey ship found wreck of missing potter boat

A wreck found on the seabed off the Dorset coast by the "Odyssey Explorer" on Mar 18, 2012, has been identified as the missing "Purbeck Isle". The survey ship discovered the wreck of 10 miles off Portland at a depth of 50 metres. The crew had not been seen or heard from since leaving Weymouth on their 36ft f/v on Mar 17 in the morning. A body found at sea on Mar 18 was one of the missing fishermen. Searches have resumed for the other two but hopes were fading that they will be found alive. Coastguards began an extensive search after the crabber was reported missing at about 6 p.m. on May 17 after failing to return home. Local fishermen had tried phoning the men's mobile phones when they first heard the boat was missing.