MISSION UPDATES

Het Wapen van Amsterdam was built and added to the Dutch fleet with a crewe of over 200 and, between 80 – 100 passengers.

Along with four others in the convoy, the ship makes its annual journey to the Dutch colonies to collect valuables.

Carrying what is believed to be the some of the most valuable cargo ever, the ship along with 4 others in the convoy, sets sale from India to make its way home to Amsterdam.

On its journey home, the convoy is caught in a raging Atlantic storm. One ship smashes and disintegrates into the Faroe Islands. Het Wapen van Amsterdam is swept into the Skeiðarár­sandur estuary off Iceland’s south coast.

Most survived, only to perish on the vast sands in brutal weather conditions. Survivors were spotted from scattered farms resting at the foot of the great glacier, Vatnajökull. Survivors took what they could carry, including a large quantity of the finest silk.

Survivors took what little they could carry, including a large quantity of the finest silk which was bartered for horses needed to get to Reykjavik so they could board a ship back to Holland. The remaining treasures sank into the sands, inside the wreck.

Now a legendary event and Iceland’s worst maritime disaster, the Icelandic government permits entrepreneur Bergur Lurusson to search for the wreck and recover its cargo on a profit share basis which also included local land owners. The team didn’t have much luck and nothing was found during this period.

Bergur teamed up with entrepreneur and well know vessel recovery expert Kristinn Gudbrandsson. All kinds of equipment was used, including an amphibious vehicle. Eventually, the team claims they have discovered the ships location.

In July 1982, excitement mounts as the team announce that they have discovered the location. The goverment passes a special law and acts as guarantor for the full 50 Million ISK ($1.8 Million in todays value) needed to fund the recovery. Digging commences.

Overwhelmed with disappointment, the team discovers only a German fishing trawler, stranded in 1903. In response to a bankruptcy claim, the government paid the creditors of Gullskip Ltd, the company responsible for the search. The dream faded back into the sands of time.

Now a legendary event and Iceland’s worst maritime disaster, the Icelandic government permits entrepreneur Bergur Lurusson to search for the wreck and recover its cargo on a profit share basis which also included local land owners. The team didn’t have much luck and nothing was found during this period.

Bergur teamed up with entrepreneur and well know vessel recovery expert Kristinn Gudbrandsson. All kinds of equipment was used, including an amphibious vehicle. Eventually, the team claims they have discovered the ships location.

In July 1982, excitement mounts as the team announce that they have discovered the location. The goverment passes a special law and acts as guarantor for the full 50 Million ISK ($1.8 Million in todays value) needed to fund the recovery. Digging commences.

Overwhelmed with disappointment, the team discovers only a German fishing trawler, stranded in 1903. In response to a bankruptcy claim, the government paid the creditors of Gullskip Ltd, the company responsible for the search. The dream faded back into the sands of time.

Now a legendary event and Iceland’s worst maritime disaster, the Icelandic government permits entrepreneur Bergur Lurusson to search for the wreck and recover its cargo on a profit share basis which also included local land owners. The team didn’t have much luck and nothing was found during this period.

Bergur teamed up with entrepreneur and well know vessel recovery expert Kristinn Gudbrandsson. All kinds of equipment was used, including an amphibious vehicle. Eventually, the team claims they have discovered the ships location.

In July 1982, excitement mounts as the team announce that they have discovered the location. The goverment passes a special law and acts as guarantor for the full 50 Million ISK ($1.8 Million in todays value) needed to fund the recovery. Digging commences.

Overwhelmed with disappointment, the team discovers only a German fishing trawler, stranded in 1903. In response to a bankruptcy claim, the government paid the creditors of Gullskip Ltd, the company responsible for the search. The dream faded back into the sands of time.