Cape Cod Submarine Finds Shipwreck 'Holy Grail' Worth Billions

FALMOUTH, MA — Officials with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth this week released new details about the recent discovery of the "holy grail of shipwrecks" said to be worth $17 billion or more. The Spanish treasure ship San José sank off the coast of Colombia in 1708 during a battle with a British fleet during the War of Spanish Succession. The San José contained gold, jewels and other treasure.

The wreck went undiscovered until November 27, 2015, when the Colombian Navy discovered it with the help of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's robot submarine, the REMUS 6000. The submarine captured images of the sea floor and researchers noted a pile of cannons. More images showed the cannons (shown in the photo above) were bronze with dolphin engravings — hallmarks of the San José. Colombian crews later confirmed the wreck was indeed the long-lost Spanish ship.

"We are pleased to have played a part in settling one of the great shipwreck mysteries for the benefit of the Colombian people and maritime history buffs worldwide," institution Vice President for Marine Facilities and Operations Rob Munier said in a statement Monday. “Once again, (the institution's) expertise ... and operations has resulted in an important discovery."

The REMUS in 2011 also discovered the wreckage of an Air France plane that crashed off the coast of Brazil in 2009.

The Colombian government has claimed ownership of the San José and plans to build a museum near the wreck site.

The institution shared more photos the REMUS 6000 captured at the San José wreck site:

Photo credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution