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Odyssey Boarded in International Waters claims US company
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gibfocus - 16th October 2007
(2007-10-16 20:50:00 )
Odyssey Marine Exploration representative Ali Nesser has today told GBC that the Odyssey Explorer vessel, detained by the Spanish Guardia Civil and Navy was first threatened with being boarded whilst in International Waters.
In a repeat situation to that experienced by the Ocean Alert, the Spanish authorities are alleged to have ordered the vessel to stop and allow to be boarded whilst within what is considered as international waters. The Spanish authorities, who claim territorial rights over the waters, are said to have ignored the companies refusal to sail into Spanish waters. Spain also ignoring claims that the co-ordinates being given where within International Waters and they held no juristiction.
After a stand off in which the Bahamas Flagged vessel refused to sail into Spanish waters, Spanish officials attempted to board the vessel, due to high swells this was aborted and the vessel was threatened with force to proceed to the Spanish port of Algeciras.
Although the international media has reported the incident as having taken place within Spanish waters, a claim made by Spain, and already criticized by the UK and Gibraltar who in the Ocean Alert incident condemned Spain?s actions, the area in which the vessel was operating at the time of the Spanish patrols? intervention is considered as international waters disputed by Spain in internationally recognized maritime charts.
The actions by the Spanish authorities and subsequent detention of the US treasure hunt vessel has since led to the arrest of the skipper of the Odyssey Explorer who has been charged with ?disobedience.? The skipper was already considered as one of the targets by the Spanish authorities over claims over the exploration for sunken treasures in an around the region. His arrest having come as no surprise as once again
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