Salvage of century-old Russian warship could unearth billions of dollars in gold
Quote:A South Korean exploration startup says it has a Russian armored cruiser ship that sank more than a century ago and rumored to have a fortune in gold encased in its hull.
The Shinil Group said it found the 6,200-ton Dmitrii Donskoi on July 14 deep in waters off South Korea's eastern Ulleung Island, further confirming the ship's identity in dives the next day. The ship was sunk in 1905 at the Battle of Tsushima during the Russo-Japanese War.
The ship was believed to carry gold being used by the Russians to finance the war along with other wealth belonging to the Czar Nicholas II. Shinil estimates the ship could have 200 tons of gold bars and coins aboard valued at more than $130 billion today.
Some Russian scholars have questioned the claim, saying it was unlikely that so much wealth would be stored in one ship. They also questioned whether the ship had room for that much gold. The truth may soon be known.
"The body of the ship was severely damaged by shelling, with its stern almost broken. And yet the ship’s deck and sides are well preserved," the company said in a statement. "The exploration team found a large amount of iron boxes in the stern and will take measures to preserve them."
RE: Salvage of century-old Russian warship could unearth billions of dollars in gold
(07-19-2018 03:27 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote: It makes little sense that the ship would have such a cargo.
If the following is true, the story doesn't make much sense.
Quote:She was spotted by several groups of Japanese warships the following day and was badly damaged in the resulting combat. Her captain ordered the crew ashore near Ulleungdo Island and had Dmitrii Donskoi scuttled offshore.
RE: Salvage of century-old Russian warship could unearth billions of dollars in gold
(07-19-2018 07:41 PM)TechRocks Wrote:
(07-19-2018 03:27 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote: It makes little sense that the ship would have such a cargo.
If the following is true, the story doesn't make much sense.
Quote:She was spotted by several groups of Japanese warships the following day and was badly damaged in the resulting combat. Her captain ordered the crew ashore near Ulleungdo Island and had Dmitrii Donskoi scuttled offshore.
RE: Salvage of century-old Russian warship could unearth billions of dollars in gold
(07-19-2018 07:50 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:
(07-19-2018 07:41 PM)TechRocks Wrote:
(07-19-2018 03:27 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote: It makes little sense that the ship would have such a cargo.
If the following is true, the story doesn't make much sense.
Quote:She was spotted by several groups of Japanese warships the following day and was badly damaged in the resulting combat. Her captain ordered the crew ashore near Ulleungdo Island and had Dmitrii Donskoi scuttled offshore.