AARC, times have changed. There are many times a State has lost against the Feds.
I see with the latest recovery, history has repeated itself with Odyssey. With the SSCA, Odyssey worked an existing Admiralty Arrest, and hoped that the Court would side with RLP (and them). The Court did, and they were lucky. Then again, ownership of the recovery has not yet been determined, after what, 2 years now? Odyssey worked for a day rate plus percentage on the SSCA, how has that worked out so far.
Now, the same scenario repeats itself. Working a claim for a day rate. Since all legitimate work has been stopped or taken away ( Gairsoppa, Victory, Susssex) who are they working for, another secret project?
The artefacts landed in Cyprus, a similar situation to the UK ROW. Odyssey claims they have a permit, but what does that mean regarding ownership, it appears nothing, as the artefacts have been seized, and the authorities are doing an ownership search.
Antiquities is quite the market in those areas, as is the laws regarding them.
Odyssey is very careful to keep repeating the same story, they have a permit, it wasn't in Cypriot waters, and they have been paid a day rate. Everyone is well aware the project was off the coast of Lebanon, so why keep repeating? It is irrelevant, you landed the recovery in Cyprus, so stop acting so guilty.
If the project is legit, why all of the secrecy? Did they have a 'permit' to recovery an 'unknown sailing vessel"?
This is all pointing down the same road as the Mercedes. In this part of the world, they don't mess around with the laws regarding theft of antiquities.
UPDATE:
Transport ministry official Alecos Michaelides told the Cyprus News Agency that the antiquities found on board the ship date back to the 18th century.
Limassol detective Yiannis Soteriades told reporters the authorities had informed Interpol about the seizure.
The items had been documented and numbered more than 600, mostly porcelain vessels which appear to be from a sunken ship.
