Tampa based Odyssey Marine spotlighted on Discovery Channel show - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Tampa based Odyssey Marine spotlighted on Discovery Channel show

Posted: Updated:

Three hundred miles off the coast of Ireland, in fifteen thousand feet of water, the S.S. Garisoppa sits at the bottom of the North Atlantic.

A German U-boat sank the Garisoppa sank in 1941. On board is an estimated one hundred to two hundred tons of silver. Tampa based Odyssey Marine has recovered forty eight tons of the silver. Odyssey President Mark Gordon says it hasn't been an easy task. Gordon says, " It's in the North Atlantic. It's really a pretty unforgiving piece of the ocean and there is really a weather window that runs between June and sometime in September where you can work in the North Atlantic. The rest of the year the seas are just way to rough to be out there."

Gordon says, the next time you're in an airplane and they reach fifteen thousand feet, look out the window and try to spot a home. Then Gordon says, imagine someone says they left their sunglasses on a dresser in a bedroom and you have to tear the roof off the house, find the bedroom and get the glasses back from the airplane. Gordon says, that's the same task they faced recovering the silver from the Garisoppa.

The rewards for the recovery are huge. Before finding the Garisoppa, Odyssey Marine reached an agreement with the British government. Gordon says, " It works out very well. Odyssey gets a hundred percent of it's expenses back and then we split eighty-twenty. Eighty percent to Odyssey and twenty percent to the British government on this project."

Odyssey's efforts to recover the silver from the Garisoppa are the focus of a new program on the Discovery Channel. " Silver Rush" will premier at 8:00 P.M. On discovery on February 24th.

  • 8 On Your Side

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:04 AM EDT2013-05-22 15:04:59 GMT
    Big health insurance companies are predicting premium increases in 2014  for small employers and people who buy coverage on their own.
    Big health insurance companies are predicting premium increases in 2014  for small employers and people who buy coverage on their own.
  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
    The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
    Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
    Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
    The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
    The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Powered by WorldNow

200 South Parker Street, Tampa, FL 33606

Telephone: 813.228.8888
Fax: 813.225.2770
Email: news@wfla.com

Can’t find something?
Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. A Media General Company.