The predecessor of Lord Nelson's more famous namesake was regarded as the 18th century's most powerful warship. Odyssey Marine Exploration found remains last May, but has kept the find secret until now.
The wreck lies 100m down in international waters, 60 miles from the Channel Islands' Casquets rocks, on which the Victory was originally thought to have been wrecked with the loss of all of its crew and the cargo of gold bullion and coins, worth an estimated $1 billion today.
Odyssey is sure the wreck is the Victory, after raising two bronze cannon marked with the crest of King George I. They are a 12-pounder and an enormous 42-pounder which, says Odyssey, could only come from the Victory.
Hull remains including the rudder, 39 more cannon, tools, navigation instruments, iron ballast, two anchors, rigging and part of a human skeleton were also recorded.
If the wreck is the Victory, then under its status as a sovereign-immune naval vessel its cargo will belong to the British Government, even though it lies in international waters.
Odyssey and the Government are reportedly in the early stages of agreeing a partnership plan to salve the wreck along archaeologically sound lines. But, a legal expert has told Divernet, it is likely that the MoD will ask first for an archaeological assessment of the site, to prove the wreck's identity beyond doubt. |
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