Underwater World Journal - Treasures of "gold" ship "Fleur De La Mar"

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Treasures of "gold" ship "Fleur De La Mar"

Monday, October 16, 2006 | Posted to Treasures underwater

It was not ordinary trip. In 1512 flagship “Fleur De La Mar” of Portuguese squadron sailed form Malacca Sultanate placed on south-west coast of Malacca peninsula but never reached the land.

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On “Fleur De La Mar” board, part of Portuguese squadron under command of Malacca conqueror admiral Afonso de Albuquerque, where are treasures of Malacca sultans and riches captured by conquistadors in Africa and Arabian Peninsula, in India and Siam.

“Fleur De La Mar” last trip was short. Almost after sailing off it fallen into bad storm, bumped against reefs and sunk, becoming for a many centuries a thrilling legend for many wreck-divers and treasure hunters. Golden statues of elephants, tigers, monkeys, precious jewelry, china porcelain and a lot more treasures of Portuguese ship – all this cost billions of dollars and still lying on bottom of the Indonesia coast.

Legends about treasures lost in this part of Earth globe for centuries disturb fantasy of treasure hunters. Historians tell that only near Indonesian coast deep-water hide treasures of hundreds wrecked ships. They where transporting spices, porcelain, textiles, precious jewelry and metals and much more – all taken from China and former colonies. Ships sunk in storms, broke on reefs, where robbed by pirates.

In 1991 sensational report traveled all around the world, telling that on bottom of Strait of Malacca 8 kilometers from north-east coast of Sumatra Isle under 18 tones of sand and silt where found remains of Portuguese ship sunk almost 500 years ago. Message about found wreck site of “Fleur De La Mar” do not leaved the press pages of Indonesia and several nearest countries.

Twenty-four hours a day, on supposed wreck site battleships of Indonesia Navy where patrolling to prevent of unauthorized attempts to access the sea treasures, valued near 9 billions and this amount a third part of Indonesia annual revenue!

The searching of “Fleur de la mar” where held for two years by Indonesian company “Jayatama istikachipta” authorized by country government. Overall investigations cost to the company around 10 millions dollars. But owners ready to invest much more to lift up treasures from sea bottom. They plan to sell treasures for 7-9 billion dollars but according to terms and conditions of a contract half of extracted treasures must be shared with government and objects of historian value should be returned to Malaysia government.

Meanwhile there is still no firm belief that ancient coins, knife, ballast stones and other findings, extracted by research group from sea bottom near Sumatra coast and served as a reason for notorious statements, truly where part of “Fleur De La Mar” cargo. There is no exception that they where contained no boards of other Portuguese squadron ships broke on reefs near Sumatra cost and sunk together with “gold” flagship “Fleur De La Mar”. “Jayatama istikachipta” owner acknowledged that company representative in Singapore hastened with sensational announcement hitting by informational agencies.

Announcements of “Fleur De La Mar” wreck site caused a new wave of interest to the underwater treasure hunting. Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs where hit by numerous collaboration proposals to extract treasures and local authorities mentioned a huge influx of divers and other underwater activities fans.

Treasure hunters from the entire world hurried up to take part in “Fleur De La Mar” loot sharing. One of Australian archeological expeditions stated that they accomplished negotiations with governments of Indonesia and Malaysia concerning of lifting up Portuguese flagship. In Hong Kong Italian Bruno de Vincentis claimed that his negotiations with Indonesian and Malaysian government hit the final stage. “We expect to find treasures but it will be very expensive adventure – told Bruno de Vincentis – We are inspired that among wrecks of “Fleur De La Mar” lays one of the biggest treasures in the world”. 

But Indonesian authorities do not hurry to negotiate with treasure hunters. “We haven’t authorized any underwater investigations yet” – announced government representative. According to international laws found treasures must be shared among three parties: country owner of wrecked ship, country in which territorial waters where found treasures and among those, who managed to found treasures. Head of Indonesian Archeological Research Administration stated that their country lack experience on such king of operations.

Underwater treasures near Indonesian coast give no rest many men. Some of them worried how to possess them, others how to reserve them. Strait of Malacca nowadays still suffers from pirates - so can we say about reliable guarding of wreck sites there? That’s why “Fleur De La Mar” story can have very unexpected denouement.

© Copyright 2006, Underwater World Journal