Salvage Team to Recover $3 Billion in Platinum From WWII Shipwreck

The wreck of a World War II merchant ship has been found by a shipwreck hunter who plans to collect on the load of platinum onboard, now valued at 3 billion dollars. The vessel was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Cape Cod. This may now possibly be the richest find ever discovered on the sea floor.

Sub Sea Research’s Greg Brooks, who has been in the shipwreck business for almost 20 years, said a wreck currently in 700 feet of water and 50 miles offshore Maine is that of the Port Nicholson, a British ship sunk in 1942. The hull number was reportedly positively identified using an underwater camera by Greg and his crew.

Salvage is set to begin this month or early March 2012. The Sea Hunter, a 220-foot vessel, will be used in the operation with the aid of a remotely operated underwater vessel.

Mr. Brooks has stated that the Port Nicholson was traveling to New York from Nova Scotia carrying an estimated 71 tons of platinum when attacked. The cargo was to be used as payment from the Soviet Union to the U.S.

A federal court judge has granted him salvage rights, according to his own testimony.