Explorers lose treasure in dispute

2012-02-01 19:50

Atlanta - A US judge has ruled against a deep-sea exploration company in a dispute with Spain over 17 tons of silver coins recovered from a sunken 19th century Spanish galleon.

Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration, which found the treasure off the Portuguese coast in 2007, had requested a stay after a federal court in Atlanta ruled last year the explorers must give the treasure back to the Spanish government.

In an order on Tuesday, a US circuit court judge denied the company's motion.

In court documents, the exploration firm said a stay of the court proceedings was necessary to protect its interests and prevent Spain from keeping the treasure as the claims were considered by courts.

- AP