Odyssey Marine Exploration, pioneers in the field of deep-ocean exploration, announced this week that the M/V Seabed Worker departed port and is on its way to begin operations to recover the anticipated silver cargoes from the SS Gairsoppa and SS Mantola shipwrecks.
Historical records indicate the Gairsoppa was carrying up to seven million ounces of silver and Mantola was carrying approximately 600,000 ounces of silver when each sank. Odyssey discovered both shipwrecks last year and conducted a series of reconnaissance dives to both sites in March and April.
Both merchant ships were torpedoed by German submarines, the Gairsoppa during WWII and the Mantola during World War I.