Narrator: IT'S THEIR LAST QUEST OF THE SEASON,
AND ODYSSEY IS AFTER A HUGE HAUL.
MARK MY WORDS, THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION'S AT.
Narrator: THE PRIZE --
A LEGENDARY CRUISE LINER KNOWN AS "THE SILVER QUEEN."
THEY'RE UP AGAINST THE CLOCK
AND THE NASTIEST WEATHER THEY'VE SEEN ALL YEAR.
AND ALL I COULD SEE WAS THIS BIG WALL OF SEA.
Narrator: A TROVE OF PURE SILVER LIES IN WAIT.
BUT THIS ONE IS GOING TO GIVE THEM
A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.
Antonissen: [BLEEP] WE'RE LOSING ALTITUDE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
ODYSSEY'S SURVEY VESSEL, THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE,
IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE WORST STORM OF THE YEAR.
IT WAS CRINKLY THIS MORNING.
NOW IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE CRINKLIER,
AND WE GOT SOME BIG SEAS COMING THROUGH.
AND, AS USUAL,
THEY ALWAYS COMES THROUGH WHEN YOU'VE JUST HAD LUNCH.
Narrator: ARCHAEOLOGIST NEIL CUNNINGHAM DOBSON
IS AT THE TAIL END OF THE BIGGEST SEASON OF HIS CAREER.
BUT AT THE MOMENT, ALL HE CAN DO IS RIDE THE WAVES.
Dobson: SOME OF THEM COMING THROUGH HERE
ARE 4 TO 6 METERS HIGH, WHICH IS ABOUT 12 TO 18 FEET.
AND FOR A WHILE THERE I COULDN'T SEE THE HORIZON.
ALL I COULD SEE WAS THIS BIG WALL OF SEA.
Narrator: WINTER STORMS HAVE CALLED AN END TO 2008
FOR MOST OF ODYSSEY'S FLEET.
BACK IN THE PORT OF HULL, ENGLAND,
THEIR VESSELS ARE GOING INTO DRY DOCK FOR YEARLY SERVICING.
THE FLAGSHIP EXPLORER WON'T BE DOING ANY MORE EXPLORING
UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
BUT BEFORE THE TEAM PACKS IT IN,
THEY'RE LOOKING TO PULL OFF ONE LAST MISSION.
AND THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE IS GOING IT ALONE.
THE PRIZE THIS TIME
IS A WORLD WAR I PASSENGER LINER CALLED THE S.S. LACONIA,
ALSO KNOWN AS "THE SILVER QUEEN."
SHE'S BEEN MISSING FOR ALMOST A CENTURY,
BUT NOW ODYSSEY IS HONING IN ON HER COORDINATES.
ON BOARD THE J.L., DAN ADAMS HAS THE LEAD.
HE WAS PART OF THE TEAM
THAT DISCOVERED THE "BLACK SWAN" TREASURE.
THERE WE GO.
IT WAS GOOD NEWS FOR ODYSSEY, BUT NOT FOR DAN.
FROM THE DAY WE FOUND IT, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK.
Narrator: CALL IT THE CURSE OF THE BLACK SWAN.
SHIPS UNDER HIS JURISDICTION
HAVE BEEN BREAKING DOWN ALL YEAR.
SOME NEVER EVEN MADE IT OUT TO SEA.
Adams: IT'S BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING,
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I COME OUT HERE
THERE'S PROBLEMS OR THE SHIP'S BROKE DOWN.
PUT ANOTHER NOTCH IN MY BELT FOR BOATS THAT HAVE GONE CRIPPLED
WHILE DAN ADAMS IS ON BOARD.
Narrator: WHILE DAN'S BEEN BATTLING BAD LUCK,
ODYSSEY'S OTHER CREWS WERE OUT MAKING HISTORY...
INCLUDING ONE OF THE GREATEST MARITIME DISCOVERIES TO DATE...
OH, MY GOD.
...COMPLETE WITH THE LARGEST BRONZE CANNON
EVER RECOVERED FROM A SHIPWRECK.
THAT'S PRETTY DAMN COOL.
[ LAUGHS ] IT'S REALLY SOMETHING.
HMS VICTORY IS THE FIND OF A LIFETIME.
BUT IT WAS A SEASON FULL OF THEM.
THEY FOUND MULTIPLE GERMAN U-BOATS
MISSING SINCE WORLD WAR II.
WE THINK WE'VE GOT A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION.
OUTSTANDING.
AND SOME SHIPWRECKS GAVE UP PRICELESS CLUES.
BELL.
Martin: IT'S A BELL.
A BRONZE BELL WAS THE KEY TO IDENTIFYING
A LONG-LOST EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY FRENCH PRIVATEER.
THEY UNCOVERED THE SECRETS OF THE LEGENDARY LUSITANIA...
THERE'S AN "S."
Dobson: THERE'S AN "S" IN THE TOP-LEFT. Martin: YEP.
Narrator: ...AND CAPPED IT ALL OFF BY FINDING A SUNKEN CONTAINER
FILLED WITH CHAMPAGNE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DAN HAS MISSED OUT ON IT ALL.
THIS MISSION IS HIS LAST CHANCE TO BRING IN A MAJOR SCORE.
THIS IS A PROJECT
THAT WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE SEASON OUT WITH,
SO, YEAH, WE'D LIKE TO FINISH IT OFF WITH A BIG BANG.
Narrator: THERE ARE JUST TWO PROBLEMS.
ONE, DAN IS HEADING TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC --
FAR OUTSIDE ODYSSEY'S NORMAL HUNTING GROUND.
AND TWO, THIS IS THE WORST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR STORMS.
BAD WEATHER ISN'T A THREAT -- IT'S A GUARANTEE.
BUT IF THEY MAKE IT THROUGH,
THE POTENTIAL PAYDAY IS ENORMOUS.
THE S.S. LACONIA IS KNOWN TO SOME AS "THE SILVER QUEEN"
BECAUSE SHE SANK WITH A HUGE TROVE OF SILVER ON BOARD.
LAUNCHED IN 1912, LACONIA WAS THE JEWEL
OF THE FAMED CUNARD PASSENGER FLEET.
ONE OF THE MOST LAVISH CRUISE SHIPS EVER BUILT,
SHE SURPASSED LUSITANIA AND EVEN THE TITANIC
IN SHEER LUXURY.
SHE BOASTED THREE SEPARATE DINING SALOONS...
OPEN PROMENADES ON EACH DECK...
A VERANDA CAFé...
AND A FULLY EQUIPPED GYMNASIUM.
THE LIBRARY AND WRITING ROOM
WERE OUTFITTED WITH SOLID MAHOGANY FURNITURE
AND FULLY FUNCTIONING FIREPLACES.
LIFE ON BOARD THE LACONIA WAS GOOD.
AND ON HER FINAL VOYAGE, FROM NEW YORK TO LIVERPOOL,
SHE CARRIED AN ENORMOUS CARGO OF SILVER.
TO RECOVER THE LACONIA
IS TO CLAIM ONE OF THE OCEAN'S GREAT UNDISCOVERED FORTUNES.
ODYSSEY HAS A GOOD IDEA OF HER LOCATION.
SHE HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN VISITED BEFORE,
BUT NO ONE HAS HAD THE TECHNOLOGY
TO FIND THE SILVER.
THE PLAN IS TO RECOVER A SINGLE ARTIFACT FROM THE WRECK.
THEY'LL USE THAT ARTIFACT
TO MAKE A FORMAL SALVAGE CLAIM IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT.
BUT TO KNOW JUST WHAT THAT'S WORTH,
THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.
SO, WE'VE GOT THE CARGO DETAILS HERE.
WAR-RISK INSURANCE...
INSURED FOR BLAH, BLAH, BLAH...
FINE SILVER...
SO THOSE ARE THE COINS.
THE MANIFEST OF THE S.S. LACONIA
LISTS LARGE QUANTITIES OF PRECIOUS METALS.
THIS IS SILVER DOLLARS, SOMETHING.
THAT'S THE QUANTITY.
SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL COINS COULD BE WORTH
THOUSANDS OF TIMES THEIR ORIGINAL FACE VALUE,
DEPENDING ON CONDITION AND RARITY.
BUT COINS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING.
467 BARS.
OH, YEAH.
HUNDREDS OF SILVER BARS, EACH WEIGHING UP TO 70 POUNDS,
TIP THE SCALES.
THE LACONIA CARRIED UP TO 33 TONS IN SILVER.
ALL OF IT NOW LIES
BENEATH THE COLD WATERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
ODYSSEY HAS COME PACKED
WITH THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY TO FIND THEIR PRIZE.
THE ROV ABOARD THE J.L.
CAN REACH OVER 18,000 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
BUT ON THIS MISSION,
IT'S THE SURFACE CONDITIONS THAT ARE THE BIGGEST CONCERN.
AS THE SHIP NEARS THE SITE OF THE LACONIA,
THE STORM SYSTEM WORSENS
AND BEGINS TO SHAKE THINGS UP ON DECK.
THE ROV HAS BROKEN FREE OF ITS LASHINGS,
AND THE CREW SCRAMBLES TO SECURE IT
BEFORE THE SEAS GET EVEN ROUGHER.
NO DAMAGE IS DONE, BUT IT'S A BAD OMEN.
YEAH, I NEED TO COME AHEAD NOW, ANYWAYS,
SO WE'LL JUST BE COMING SLOWLY AHEAD.
WE'LL HAVE A LOOK AT IT LATER.
Narrator: THE J.L. IS A CHARTERED VESSEL,
SO DAN DOESN'T HAVE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY.
THIS IS CAPTAIN BILL RICHARDSON'S BOAT,
AND HE HAS FINAL SAY ON WHETHER THEY CAN DIVE OR NOT.
WELL, WE'RE JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER NOW,
AND THE WEATHER'S GOING TO GET WORSE AND WORSE
THROUGH UNTIL THE SPRING.
AND SO WE COULD BE WAITING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AT A TIME.
IT'S A WEATHER GAME AT THE MOMENT.
Narrator: THEIR ONLY OPTION FOR NOW
IS TO SCAN THE FORECASTS IN SEARCH OF A WEATHER WINDOW --
A PERIOD BETWEEN WINTER STORMS.
Adams: IT'S LOOKING A LOT BETTER TODAY THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY.
Richardson: I WAS WORRIED YESTERDAY.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA BE HEADING BACK INTO PORT.
SO, WHAT PARAMETERS CAN WE OPERATE IN
AS FAR AS ROV SIDE SCAN?
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SEA STATE FOUR
TO SAFELY LAUNCH AND RECOVER THE ROV.
ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT,
THE SHIP MOVES AROUND A BIT TOO MUCH.
AND GETTING THE THING OFF DECK AND IN THE WATER
BECOMES A BIT HAZARDOUS.
RIGHT, RIGHT.
Narrator: A SEA STATE OF 4 MEANS WAVES UP TO 8 FEET.
ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT MAKES LAUNCHING THE ROV
TOO DANGEROUS FOR BOTH THE GEAR AND THE CREW.
UNLIKE ODYSSEY'S FLAGSHIP, THE EXPLORER,
THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE WASN'T MEANT FOR DEEP-SEA ARCHAEOLOGY.
THE CREW COULD BE IN FOR A ROUGHER RIDE THAN EXPECTED.
LOOK, HERE'S MY LEAKY PORTHOLE.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, SOMEONE'S TRIED TO REPAIR IT,
AND THEY'VE MADE THIS SORT OF HALF AQUARIUM,
WHICH HOLDS THE WATER.
I'M FRIGHTENED TO OPEN IT. WHOOSH.
Narrator: CONDITIONS AREN'T IDEAL.
BUT GOOD WEATHER COULD OPEN UP AT ANY TIME,
SO THE CREW NEEDS TO BE
READY FOR ACTION AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
OKAY, COME ON. ONE MORE TIME.
SCOTT STEMM IS A DATA MANAGER FOR ODYSSEY ON THIS PROJECT.
HE IS ALSO THE BROTHER OF C.E.O. GREG STEMM.
SCOTT IS ON BOARD TO OVERSEE THE NON-ODYSSEY CHARTER CREW
AND MAKE SURE THE OPERATIONS GO ACCORDING TO PLAN.
WELL, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS.
Martin: IS IT TRAVELING?
Wilson: YEP. SHUT IT OFF.
OFF.
Narrator: NOW IT'S A WAITING GAME.
IF THE STORM BREAKS,
THEY COULD BE ONE DIVE AWAY FROM A FORTUNE IN SILVER.
BUT THE CREW OF THE J.L.
IS ABOUT TO GET A RUDE AWAKENING.
Narrator: THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 1st, AT DAWN.
THE ODYSSEY TEAM LEARNS THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE VERY WRONG.
WHILE THE REST OF THE CREW SLEPT,
THE SHIP'S CHIEF OFFICER WAS ON THE BRIDGE.
WHEN I CAME UP ON WATCH, THERE WAS A VESSEL ON THE RADAR,
PROBABLY ABOUT 9 OR 10 MILES AWAY.
HAD A QUICK LOOK AT IT, CHECKED ON THE CHARTS,
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WAS
RIGHT IN THE POSITION WHERE WE WERE HEADING TO WORK.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING WE CERTAINLY WASN'T EXPECTING.
Narrator: A SHIP IS ALREADY SITTING IN ODYSSEY'S PRIME SEARCH AREA.
Peters: HE SAID HE WAS, YOU KNOW, ENGAGED IN SOME SURVEY WORK.
AND SO, WELL, I JUST ASKED HIM
IF HE WAS TOWING ANYTHING OR HAD ANYTHING IN THE WATER.
AND HE SAID, YES, HE HAD AN ROV DOWN.
Narrator: IT'S A SHIP MUCH LIKE THE J.L.,
AND IT'S WORKING VERY NEAR ODYSSEY'S TARGET.
THEY'VE MAY HAVE BEEN BEATEN TO THE PUNCH.
AND THEN I JUST ASKED HIM,
"HOW LONG ARE YOU EXPECTED TO BE IN THE AREA?"
AND HE SAID FIVE DAYS.
Narrator: FIVE DAYS WILL USE UP THE ENTIRE WINDOW OF GOOD WEATHER
AND GO RIGHT INTO THE NEXT STORM.
DAN'S RUN OF BAD LUCK HASN'T ENDED.
NO, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
IT WAS KIND OF A SHOCK.
THAT'S WHY, AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE.
Narrator: A SALVAGE VESSEL PARKED IN THE AREA
OF THE S.S. LACONIA SHIPWRECK SITE.
IT'S UNLIKELY TO BE A COINCIDENCE.
THE CREW DOES THEIR HOMEWORK AND CONFIRMS THAT THE OTHER SHIP
IS OUTFITTED FOR HEAVY SALVAGE WORK.
Adams: THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE. IT'S ABOUT 70 METERS LONG.
LOOKS LIKE A WINCH HERE,
POSSIBLY ROV OVER HERE, BUT I CAN'T REALLY TELL.
IT'S A BIT DISAPPOINTING.
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO LOOKING AT THE LACONIA,
BUT THAT'S NOT TO BE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: ODYSSEY HAS SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET HERE.
THEY DON'T GIVE UP THAT EASILY.
BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE PATIENT.
WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR COMPETITION TO MOVE OFF SITE,
THEY'LL GO HUNTING FOR OTHER TREASURE NEARBY.
AND THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT --
THE OLD HUNTING GROUNDS OF GERMAN SUBMARINES.
U-BOATS CRUISED THESE WATERS DURING BOTH WORLD WARS,
AND THE SEAFLOOR IN THIS AREA IS LITTERED WITH THEIR KILLS --
HUNDREDS OF MERCHANT VESSELS, CARRYING EVERYTHING
FROM LEAD, TIN, COPPER, AND STEEL.
THEY'RE KNOWN AS COMMODITY WRECKS,
AND A SALVAGE JOB ON ONE OF THESE STEEL SHIPS
IS A LOT DIFFERENT
THAN ODYSSEY'S DELICATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS.
Dobson: NOW, IF WE COULD TURN THIS INTO GOLD,
WE'D BE ONTO SOMETHING.
Narrator: ODYSSEY HAS ALREADY FOUND AND INSPECTED
AN ENGLISH CHANNEL WRECK EARLIER THIS SEASON.
IT'S LOADED WITH TONS OF LEAD
THAT COULD BE SOLD TO THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.
FOR POSSIBLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SINCE THE J.L. CREW
CAN NO LONGER BANK ON THE S.S. LACONIA,
THEY NEED TO FIND A COMMODITY WRECK, AND FAST.
IT COULD KEEP THIS VOYAGE FROM BEING A TOTAL WRITE-OFF.
Adams: WE'RE LOOKING FOR WORLD WAR II-ERA
AND WORLD WAR I-ERA-TYPE SHIPS,
YOU KNOW, MAINLY STEEL-HULLED SHIPS.
IT'LL PAY THE BILLS. [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: THE TRICK NOW IS TO STAY CLOSE TO THE SITE OF THE S.S. LACONIA
WITHOUT BEING DETECTED.
WE CAN, YOU KNOW, USE CODE NAMES AND, YOU KNOW,
DON'T BLAB OUT TO OUR FRIENDS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND STUFF
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO TIP OFF OUR COMPETITORS.
Narrator: THEY'VE SELECTED THEIR NEXT TARGET.
CODE NAME -- SAVANA.
AND IT LIES JUST TWO HOURS WEST OF THEIR CURRENT POSITION.
Adams: IT HAS A THOUSAND TONS OF COPPER ON BOARD.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH OUR TIME
IF WE CAN RECOVER SOME OF THAT COPPER.
Narrator: ON THE WAY TO THE SITE,
THEY'LL PREP THEIR STATIONS FOR AN EXPLORATORY DIVE.
UNLIKE ODYSSEY EXPLORER, WHERE DIVE ACTIVITIES
ARE COORDINATED BETWEEN THREE DIFFERENT ROOMS,
OPERATIONS ON THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE
ARE CENTRALIZED IN A SINGLE CONTROL ROOM
WHERE SURVEYORS, ROV OPERATORS,
AND DATA MANAGERS WORK IN TANDEM.
CAN WE GET A PHOTO OF IT BEFORE WE PICK IT UP?
NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS ARE SENT FROM HERE TO THE SHIP'S BRIDGE.
DAN AND NEIL PORE OVER THE SPECS ON SAVANA.
SHE WAS A WORLD WAR I CARGO SHIP THAT, ACCORDING TO RECORDS,
WENT DOWN CARRYING TONS OF COPPER
TO BE TURNED INTO ARTILLERY SHELL CASINGS IN ENGLAND.
MATCHES THE HISTORICAL RECORD OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
DO YOU KNOW THE STORY? NO.
WELL, BASICALLY,
THE U-BOAT STOPPED HER AND BOARDED HER.
TOOK PEOPLE OFF IT,
AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY SET CHARGES
DOWN IN THE ENGINE ROOM TO BLOW HER OUT.
A U-BOAT STALKING SAVANA
FIRED A TORPEDO WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND MISSED.
SUDDENLY AWARE OF THE DANGER,
THE CARGO SHIP TRIED TO OUTRUN THE SUBMARINE
BUT DIDN'T MAKE IT.
THE U-BOAT CHASED HER DOWN
AND FORCED HER CREW OF 19 MEN INTO LIFEBOATS.
RATHER THAN WASTE ANOTHER TORPEDO,
THE GERMANS BOARDED SAVANA AND SANK HER WITH EXPLOSIVES.
THE SHIP AND A THOUSAND TONS OF COPPER
WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM.
BUT YOU CAN'T SALVAGE WHAT YOU CAN'T FIND.
THE FIRST STEP FOR ODYSSEY IS TO MOUNT THEIR DEEPEST
SONAR-SCANNING OPERATION OF THE SEASON...
A NEW CONCEPT FOR SOME OF DAN'S CREW.
I'VE TAKEN AN INTRO CLASS IN THE SONAR,
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE WORKED WITH IT.
Narrator: ZACH ANTONISSEN IS JUST OUT OF SCHOOL,
AND HE'S WORKING TOWARD HIS DREAM JOB.
I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO BE A COMMERCIAL DIVER.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A ROV PILOT.
Narrator: HIS FIRST TOUR AT SEA HASN'T BEEN EASY.
THE DAYS ARE EITHER EXHAUSTINGLY FRANTIC
OR TEDIOUS TO THE POINT OF BOREDOM.
AND IN WEATHER LIKE THIS,
THERE'S NO ESCAPING THE CURSE OF THE NEWBIE -- SEASICKNESS.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND FIRE UP.
IT'S COLD OUT HERE TONIGHT.
BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS ON THE SURFACE
AND THE DEPTH OF THE WRECK, THIS IS A COMPLICATED OPERATION.
Adams: BRIDGE, DECK. Richardson: Go ahead.
YEAH, DO YOU HAVE YOUR CLEAR COMMS ON UP THERE?
Let me double check.
Someone might have turned the old volume down.
SAVANA RESTS BENEATH A QUARTER MILE OF OCEAN.
IT WILL TAKE THEIR SONAR ARRAY
HOURS TO DESCEND AND THEN FIND THE RIGHT HEADING...
ALL AT THE END OF THOUSANDS OF FEET OF DATA CABLE.
WITH THAT MUCH CABLE,
KEEPING THE SONAR AN EVEN 20 METERS ABOVE THE SEAFLOOR
IS NO EASY TASK.
A COLLISION WOULD DAMAGE A $100,000 PIECE OF GEAR
AND PUT AN END TO A MISSION WORTH MILLIONS.
THE SURVEY CREW SETTLES IN FOR A LONG NIGHT OF TENSE WORK.
SO, THIS IS OUR FIRST RUN ON IT.
SO, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET LUCKY AND CATCH IT ON OUR FIRST TRY.
I'M GONNA TRUST YOU AGAIN.
I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU ALONE DURING THE TURN.
ZACH TAKES THE BIG CHAIR
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DEEP WATER.
HE'S IN CHARGE UNTIL DAN GETS BACK.
[ INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER ]
BRIDGE, CAN YOU SPEED UP A BIT?
Richardson: Sorry. Say again.
COULD YOU SPEED UP?
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE HE'S THROWN A CRISIS.
YEAH, SORRY, WE'RE JUST LOSING ALTITUDE ON THE FISH.
READINGS FROM THE SONAR
INDICATE IT'S HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE SEABED.
THEY'RE SECONDS AWAY FROM A CATASTROPHE.
HAVE HIM STRAIGHTEN OUT THE BOAT.
IS HE GOING STRAIGHT?
WHERE'S DAN?
LET'S CALL HIM.
SOMETHING'S...
WHAT?
WELL, JUST LOOK AT OUR ALTITUDE.
17.
'CAUSE I LEFT IT AT 500 METERS.
YEAH, THIS SAYS...
WELL, JUST AS I SAW THE ALTITUDE DROPPING.
YOU'RE NOT PICKING UP ALTITUDE.
IT'S TOO HIGH.
FALSE ALARM. ZACH HAS MADE A BEGINNER'S MISTAKE.
YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
COULD YOU BRING IT DOWN TO FIVE KNOTS, PLEASE?
WE HAD A LITTLE MIX-UP DOWN HERE.
THEIR SONAR WAS SO FAR FROM THE SEAFLOOR
THAT THE DOWNWARD SIGNAL WAS LOST.
INSTEAD, ZACH WAS READING THE ECHO
REFLECTED BY THE SEA SURFACE -- FALSE DATA.
WELL, I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DEPTH
AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE SHIP WHEEL
AND I LOOK OVER AND THE ALTITUDE'S AT 15
AND I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL.
I JUST HIT THE SUCKER AS FAST AS I CAN.
'CAUSE THEY SLOWED DOWN FOR THAT TURN.
PART OF IT'S MY FAULT 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WARN HIM ABOUT IT.
IT JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO ALL THESE GUYS,
ALL THE OTHER GUYS THAT HAVE WORKED IN DEEP WATER,
THEY KNOW IT LOSES ITS BOTTOM TRACKING.
Richardson: Dan. Pull the fuse.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEED UP TO FOUR KNOTS, PLEASE.
Narrator: THE TEAM SETS UP FOR ANOTHER PASS,
AND ZACH GETS A SHOT AT REDEMPTION.
SEE THE MAGNETOMETER IS STARTING TO PEAK THERE.
A LITTLE DEBRIS OUT HERE.
HOURS LATER,
THEY FINALLY GET THEIR FIRST LOOK AT THE SHIPWRECK.
VERY NICE. OKAY. WE GOT OUR IMAGE.
WITH THESE DETAILED SONAR PICTURES,
NEIL AND DAN CAN BEGIN PLANNING PHASE 2 OF THEIR OPERATION --
THE DIVE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TARGET WE CAME TO.
THIS IS EVEN BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT IN THE SHADOW HERE.
MIGHT BE JUST SOME SEDIMENT. BUT IT'S BROKEN OFF?
YEAH, IT BROKE OFF REAL CLEAN, LOOKS LIKE.
USING THE SCANNING IMAGE, THEY PLOT A MAP
TO THE CARGO'S MOST LIKELY POSITION ON THE WRECK SITE.
SO, I ASSUME PROBABLY COPPER INGOTS
WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD LOOK FOR.
OR WE'LL KEEP OUR EYE OUT FOR COPPER.
WELL, IF A HEAVY LOAD HAD BEEN BLOWN UP,
THIS SHOULD ALL SETTLE DOWN IN ONE AREA.
I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE START OUT HERE IN THE CENTER
AND SEE WHAT SPILLED OUT.
THE STORY OF THE SHIP'S SINKING PROVIDES A KEY CLUE.
THIS WRECK IS SPLIT IN TWO FROM EXPLOSIVES.
HER PRECIOUS COPPER CARGO
COULD BE SITTING OUT IN THE OPEN WAITING TO BE FOUND.
Narrator: THE SHIP CODE-NAMED SAVANA
BROKE INTO PIECES BY THE TIME IT ARRIVED ON THE SEAFLOOR.
ODYSSEY'S PLAN IS TO LAND THEIR ROV
DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE TWO SECTIONS OF HULL.
THE J.L. TEAM'S ROV MAY NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THE FAMOUS ZEUS,
BUT THE TWO SHARE MANY OF THE SAME ABILITIES.
THIS IS COMANCHE 1, OUR ROV, AND IT'S RATED TO 6,000 METERS.
THIS IS OUR HIGH-PERFORMANCE SONAR.
OR THEY CALL IT AN ACOUSTIC CAMERA.
THESE TWO HERE ARE THE FLASHES FOR THE STILLS CAMERA.
WE HAVE A MANIPULATOR HERE, A HOSE ON IT.
AT THE MOMENT, IT'S NOT OVERLY FRIENDLY.
THIS IS A FOUR-FUNCTION GRIPPER
THAT REALLY IS TO HOLD ONTO THINGS
WHILE YOU'RE USING THE MANIPULATOR.
Narrator: UNLIKE ZEUS, WHICH IS FREE-SWIMMING,
THIS ROV GOES INTO THE WATER IN A CAGE
TO PROTECT THE ROBOT ON ITS WAY DOWNWARD.
ONCE ARRIVING ON THE SEABED, IT FLIES OUT,
CONNECTED BY A CABLE CALLED A TETHER.
THE TETHER SPOOLS FROM THE CAGE, KEEPING THE ROV ON A SAFE LEASH.
Adams: RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A SECTOR-SCAN SONAR
THAT REACHES OUT 100 METERS, 120 METERS AHEAD OF US.
SO WE CAN SCAN FOR HARD OBJECTS LIKE METAL
OR PART OF A SHIPWRECK OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
Narrator: THE ROV'S ONBOARD SONAR
QUICKLY SPOTS A LARGE TARGET 100 METERS AHEAD.
IT COULD BE SAVANA'S HULL.
WE'LL GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO IT AND SEE WHAT IT IS.
STEP ONE WILL BE TO LOOK FOR CLUES ABOUT THE WRECK'S AGE.
THAT WILL HELP THEM CONFIRM ITS IDENTITY.
Dobson: WHAT WAS THAT?
NEIL HAS PROBABLY SPENT MORE TIME
DATING SHIPWRECKS THAN ANYBODY ELSE HERE.
HE ALSO KNOWS HIS EELS.
WOW, THAT'S A NICE ONE.
Holmwood: I THINK IT'S BUSY EATING THE THRUSTER AT THE MOMENT.
NICE PICTURE.
YOU COULD GET ABOUT 20 QUID FOR THAT
IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT.
SHIPWRECKS ATTRACT FISH, LIKE CORAL REEFS.
SEA LIFE IS ANOTHER CLUE THEY'RE APPROACHING A LARGE VESSEL.
UP ON THE BRIDGE,
BILL CAREFULLY TRACKS THE ROV'S MOVEMENTS UNDERWATER.
HE STEERS THE SHIP TO FOLLOW IT AS IT MOVES CLOSER AND CLOSER.
20 METERS AHEAD, COMING UP.
THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE THERE?
THE ROV IS OVER 1,000 FEET
BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN,
AND THE VISIBILITY IS SURPRISINGLY GOOD.
THEY SPOT THE FIRST PIECES OF WHAT MIGHT BE SAVANA'S WRECKAGE.
I WANT TO GET A STILL PICTURE OF THAT.
THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE'S ROV PILOTS HAVEN'T HAD THE BENEFIT
OF ODYSSEY'S LONG EXPERIENCE EXPLORING SHIPWRECKS.
THEY'RE PLAYING IT SLOW, FLYING AROUND OBSTRUCTIONS,
LONG BEFORE THE CAMERA EVEN SPOTS THEM.
THEY NEED AN ARTIFACT THAT CAN PLAY TWO ROLES --
IDENTIFY THE SHIP AND SERVE AS PROOF IN COURT,
ALLOWING ODYSSEY TO CLAIM THE SALVAGE RIGHTS.
THE FIRST CANDIDATE LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE
SOME KIND OF CONTAINER.
Dobson: HAVE YOU GOT THE EDGE OF THE MANIP IN THERE, AS WELL?
BUT WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH FROM THE ROV'S MANIPULATOR ARMS,
THE OBJECT DISINTEGRATES IN THE SEDIMENT,
WEAKENED FROM DECADES LYING ON THE SEAFLOOR.
[BLEEP]
BUT NEIL QUICKLY SPOTS SOMETHING ELSE.
I'M SEEING SOME STEEL PLATE WITH RIVET CONSTRUCTION,
WHICH PUTS IT IN THE RIGHT TIME PERIOD.
RIVETED STEEL DATES TO THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.
AND FROM HIS RESEARCH,
NEIL KNOWS THAT SAVANA WAS RIVETED.
YEAH, THERE'S SOME OTHER FRAMING BEHIND THERE.
THAT OTHER PART THERE LOOKS -- YOU SEE THAT CORRUGATED...
LOOKS INTERESTING.
AN OBJECT IS PROTRUDING FROM THE DEBRIS.
IT COULD BE PART OF SAVANA'S CARGO.
THAT LOOKS LIKE COPPER, HUH?
IF IT'S COPPER,
THEN IT'S JUST THE KIND OF EVIDENCE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
NEIL DIRECTS THE ROV PILOTS TO RETRIEVE THE MATERIAL
FROM THE SEABED -- A DELICATE MANEUVER.
IF IT DOESN'T SURVIVE THE QUARTER-MILE JOURNEY
THROUGH ROUGH SEAS, IT'S OF NO USE TO ODYSSEY.
THE ARTIFACT MAKES IT TO THE SURFACE IN ONE PIECE,
AND IT HOLDS A SURPRISE FOR THE CREW.
THEY'VE RECOVERED MORE THAN A SCRAP OF COPPER.
THAT'S BRASS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
THAT'S GOOD.
Narrator: IT APPEARS TO BE
A FULL ROLL OF WEAPONS-GRADE BRASS,
WHICH IS GENERALLY 95% COPPER AND 5% ZINC.
THE FIRST THING THAT CAME IN MIND, IT'S GOT WAR MATéRIEL.
MAYBE THIS IS FOR MAKING SHELL CASES.
RIGHT CARGO, RIGHT SHIP.
I'M HAPPY.
VERY HAPPY. VERY HAPPY.
SAVANA WAS MOST LIKELY CARRYING THE HIGH-COPPER BRASS
AS WAR MATéRIEL,
USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTILLERY SHELL CASINGS.
IT'S PRETTY COOL, I GUESS.
I DON'T WANT TO CUT IT, SO I'M GONNA ROLL IT.
AND AS I'M ROLLING IT, I'M GONNA PUSH DOWN,
AND THAT MIGHT FLATTEN IT A BIT MORE.
Narrator: THIS IS THE FIRST ARTIFACT ZACH'S EVER HELPED RETRIEVE.
30 POUNDS OF TREASURE.
THE ROLL OF WEAPONS-GRADE BRASS IS JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED --
THEY'LL TAKE A SMALL SAMPLE TO U.S. FEDERAL COURT
AS PROOF OF THEIR FIND TO ARREST THE SHIPWRECK
AND STAKE A LEGAL CLAIM TO HER CARGO.
THE SAVANA DIVE HAS BEEN A TEXTBOOK OPERATION --
ONE THEY'D HOPED TO BE CONDUCTING ON THE S.S. LACONIA.
IT APPEARS THEY'VE ALREADY MADE THE TRIP A SUCCESS.
BUT NOW THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET A SECOND CHANCE
AT THE "SILVER QUEEN."
Narrator: IN ODYSSEY'S BUSINESS,
IT ISN'T ALWAYS FINDER'S KEEPERS.
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT WHO GETS TO THE TREASURE FIRST --
IT'S WHO GETS TO COURT FIRST.
ODYSSEY'S COMPETITION
MAY HAVE BEATEN THEM TO THE LACONIA WRECK SITE,
BUT THE RACE IS STILL ON.
UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS,
DAN ADAMS TAKES ODYSSEY'S COVERT OPERATION
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THE J.L. IS CREEPING TO THE VERY EDGE
OF THEIR COMPETITION'S RADAR RANGE.
HOPEFULLY, THEY JUST THINK
WE'RE A FISHING VESSEL PASSING BY.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 48 HOURS
SINCE THEY FIRST MADE CONTACT WITH THE MYSTERIOUS SHIP.
Adams: I'D CALL IT A LITTLE CAT AND MOUSE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A FRIENDLY LITTLE GAME.
Narrator: IN THIS GAME,
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT STAKE.
AS THEY PULL INTO RADAR RANGE,
BILL NOTICES THAT SOMETHING HAS CHANGED.
THEIR COMPETITION IS NO LONGER SITTING OVER THE TARGET AREA.
RANGE IS 24 KILOMETERS.
Adams: YEP.
BEARING IS 2-0-5.
2-0-5.
HE CHECKS THEIR HEADING AND CONFIRMS IT.
10 KNOTS?
THEIR RIVAL IS ON THE MOVE.
YOU THINK IT'S MORE OF A HURRY-UP SPEED?
I'D SAY THAT'S AS FAST AS THEY CAN GO.
THE SHIP IS LEAVING THE SITE AT MAXIMUM SPEED,
AND THEY GIVE NO SIGN
OF HAVING DETECTED THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE.
Adams: MAYBE THEY HAD PROBLEMS
AND THEY HAVE TO GO INTO PORT AND WE CAN SWOOP IN
AND GET ON THE SITE AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
Narrator: DAN SEIZES THE OPPORTUNITY.
IF ODYSSEY CAN RETRIEVE AN ARTIFACT FROM THE SITE
AND GET HOME FAST ENOUGH,
THEY CAN BE THE FIRST TO LEGALLY CLAIM THE SHIPWRECK.
SECRECY IS STILL THE NAME OF THE GAME.
THE J.L. KEEPS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF RADAR RANGE
WHILE MIMICKING THE MOVEMENT AND SPEED OF A FISHING TRAWLER.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM ANOTHER HOUR
AND GET SOME, YOU KNOW, SEPARATION
AND THEN MAKE A RUN FOR THE SITE.
TRY AND KEEP MY EXCITEMENT UNDER CONTROL, THOUGH,
UNTIL WE'RE ACTUALLY SITTING ON TOP OF IT.
Narrator: AT DAWN'S FIRST LIGHT, THE WAIT IS OVER.
NOW SPEED IS EVERYTHING.
SINCE THEY ONLY HAVE TIME FOR A SINGLE DIVE WITH THEIR ROV,
THEY'LL FIRST CAPTURE A SONAR IMAGE OF THE WRECK
TO HELP WITH NAVIGATION.
LACONIA WOULD BE TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS LONG,
SO KNOWING HOW SHE SETTLED TO THE BOTTOM
IS THE KEY TO QUICKLY FINDING ARTIFACTS
THAT CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY AND CLAIM HER.
THE TOWFISH'S SONAR BEAM
WILL PAINT A DETAILED IMAGE OF HOW THIS SHIP LOOKS TODAY.
THE HUGE PASSENGER LINER
COULD TOWER 20 METERS OFF THE SEAFLOOR,
SO DAN IS CAUTIOUS ON THE FIRST PASS.
I WANTED TO PLAY IT SAFE 'CAUSE IT IS SUCH A LARGE WRECK.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GET TANGLED UP IN IT.
Narrator: THEY CAN'T SEE MUCH DETAIL,
BUT IT GIVES DAN A ROUGH OUTLINE
SO HE CAN GET CLOSER NEXT TIME.
WHAT I'LL DO IS OFFSET OUR LINE CLOSER TO THE TARGET NOW,
HIT IT AGAIN AT 300 METERS,
AND THEN WE'LL JUST KEEP DIALING IT IN CLOSER AND CLOSER.
THE VERY NEXT PASS REMINDS THEM HOW DANGEROUS THIS WRECK IS.
[BLEEP]
THE SONAR IS SUDDENLY RUNNING TOO CLOSE TO THE DEBRIS.
SO THE CREW HAULS IN THEIR DATA CABLE
AND PRAYS THERE'S NO COLLISION.
NO DAMAGE IS DONE, BUT THE SCANNING IMAGE SHOWS
THAT THEIR GEAR CROSSED DIRECTLY OVER THE WRECKAGE.
IT WAS A NEAR MISS.
I WAS SCARED. [ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S WHY THE CABLE WAS COMING IN FULL BORE.
Narrator: THE TEAM MAKES A FEW MORE VERY CAREFUL PASSES,
AND IT PAYS OFF.
THEY CAPTURE IMAGES
THAT ARE SHARP ENOUGH TO PLOT A SAFE COURSE FOR THE ROV.
GOT A REALLY GOOD IMAGE OF IT.
WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE STERN WHERE IT'S BEEN BROKEN APART,
THE DEBRIS TRAIL BEHIND IT.
LOOKS LIKE THE BOW IS PRETTY MUCH INTACT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS TREMENDOUS.
THIS WILL MAKE OUR DIVE SO MUCH EASIER
'CAUSE WE'LL ACTUALLY --
IT'S LIKE HAVING A ROADMAP FOR A SHIPWRECK.
SOON, THEY'LL GET THEIR CHANCE
TO EXPLORE WHAT MIGHT BE THE LAST REMAINING FRAGMENTS
OF A TRAGIC STORY.
THE S.S. LACONIA
WAS THE LUXURIOUS QUEEN OF THE CUNARD PASSENGER FLEET.
BUT IN WORLD WAR I,
SHE WAS CONVERTED TO AN ARMED MERCHANT SHIP.
IT WAS A GERMAN U-BOAT THAT BROUGHT HER DOWN...
...LAUNCHING TWO TORPEDOES,
ONE OF THEM STRAIGHT INTO HER ENGINE ROOM.
MOST OF THE MEN AND WOMEN ON BOARD
WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE SAFELY IN LIFEBOATS.
BUT SADLY, 12 LIVES WERE LOST
WHEN THE LACONIA DISAPPEARED FOREVER,
INCLUDING TWO AMERICANS -- A MOTHER AND A DAUGHTER.
THEIR DEATHS SPARKED HEADLINES AND LED TO CALLS
FOR THE UNITED STATES TO ENTER THE WAR.
AND THE LOSS IN CARGO WAS STAGGERING --
33 TONS OF SILVER COINS AND INGOTS.
IT COULD BE WORTH $100 MILLION TODAY.
THE JOHN LETHBRIDGE MOVES INTO POSITION
DIRECTLY OVER THE WRECK SITE.
BUT WILL THE WEATHER HOLD OUT LONG ENOUGH?
Narrator: THE ODYSSEY CREW
HAS BEEN WORKING FOR NEARLY 72 HOURS STRAIGHT,
AND THEY'RE RUNNING LOW ON ENERGY.
TEA, THE GREAT BRITISH DRINK.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS RUN ON TEA.
DAN ADAMS BRIEFS THE TIRED TEAM
AND PREPS THEM FOR THEIR ONE AND ONLY SHOT AT THE LACONIA.
PLAN IS TO JUST DIVE DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
HAVE A LOOK-SEE AROUND,
YOU KNOW, GET AS MANY PICTURES, STILLS AS WE CAN,
RECOVER ONE, TWO, OR THREE ITEMS.
Narrator: NEIL'S DONE HIS RESEARCH
AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE HE'D LOOK FOR LACONIA'S TREASURE.
Dobson: THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT. THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION'S AT.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THE BLING-BLING IS.
Narrator: THE SILVER CARGO
WOULD HAVE BEEN STOWED IN A SPECIAL STORAGE COMPARTMENT
IN A PARTICULAR PLACE ON THE SHIP.
DESCENDING MORE THAN 1,000 FEET INTO THE DARKNESS,
THEIR ROV ARRIVES ON THE SEAFLOOR.
THEY KNOW THAT MUCH OF THE SHIP'S HULL IS INTACT.
NOW SONAR IMAGING HAS LOCATED A TALL STRUCTURE,
AND THE ROV'S PILOTS BEGIN FLYING TOWARD IT.
THE MISSION AT HAND IS TO FIND AN OBJECT
THAT CAN BE USED IN A SALVAGE CLAIM.
IT ISN'T LONG
BEFORE THEY COME ACROSS SOMETHING THAT LOOKS PROMISING.
Stemm: YOU WANT ANOTHER SHOT OF THAT?
YEAH, IT'S JUST -- THAT'S QUITE AN EDGE.
IT LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT THERE,
THAT EDGE WOULD HAVE BEEN RUSTED AWAY.
SEE, IT'S GOT THAT CAST ON IT, THAT SHELL CAST,
SO THAT'S SOME SORT OF CERAMIC.
IT'S PROBABLY A CHUNK OF TILE.
LOOKS -- IT COULD BE A PIECE OF FLOOR TILING.
A TILE LIKE THIS MIGHT HAVE COME FROM THE GYMNASIUM
USED BY LACONIA'S FIRST-CLASS PASSENGERS.
THE GYM WAS ON THE "A" DECK -- THE HIGHEST IN THE SHIP.
BUT IT'LL TAKE RESEARCH TO KNOW FOR SURE.
UP ON THE J.L.'s BRIDGE,
THE SHIP'S OFFICERS KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEIR COMPETITION,
WHO COULD RETURN AT ANYTIME.
TO PASS THE HOURS,
THEY WATCH THE VIDEO FEED FROM THE DIVE
AND COME UP WITH THEIR OWN THEORIES.
Man: ANY BETS ON WHAT IT IS?
A TOASTED SANDWICH.
CHEESE AND ONION TOASTED SANDWICH.
IT MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH,
BUT THIS ARTIFACT COULD HELP ODYSSEY
MAKE A LEGAL CLAIM TO THE SHIPWRECK.
IT'S DEFINITELY A TILE. YEAH.
ARE YOU KEEPING THIS ONE, DAN?
WHAT'S THAT? YEAH.
Narrator: IT'S A GOOD FIND,
BUT THEY'RE NOT DONE HUNTING FOR CLUES.
WHAT THEY REALLY WANT
IS AN OBJECT DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE LACONIA.
NOW THEY BEGIN FOLLOWING
THE DEBRIS TRAIL TOWARD THE SHIP'S HULL.
AND NEIL IS ANXIOUS
TO FINALLY LAY EYES ON THEIR TARGET.
I WANT TO SEE THE WRECK, YOU KNOW, NOT THE DEBRIS FIELD.
Narrator: THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE ARTIFACT IN HAND,
AND DAN THINKS THEIR CHANCES OF BEATING THE COMPETITION
ARE LOOKING GOOD.
I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE AT THE SITE RIGHT NOW,
AND WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ADVANTAGE.
I THINK WE'RE PRETTY EXPERIENCED WITH THE WHOLE ARREST PROCESS,
AS WELL, SO...
AREN'T WE, NEIL?
NO COMMENT.
[ LAUGHS ]
NOT ONLY ARE THEY PRACTICED AT MAKING ARREST CLAIMS,
THEY'RE ALSO ONE OF THE FEW TEAMS
TO HAVE LIFTED A HUGE HOARD OF SILVER FROM THE SEAFLOOR.
Money: THERE'S THOUSANDS OF THEM.
IN 2007,
ODYSSEY RECOVERED THE 17-TON BLACK SWAN TREASURE...
OH, MY GOSH. THERE'S EVEN MORE.
...A ROUND-THE-CLOCK RETRIEVAL OPERATION
THAT TOOK 6 WEEKS AND TESTED THE ENDURANCE
OF ODYSSEY'S EQUIPMENT AND CREW.
IT WAS A MASSIVE HAUL.
BUT LACONIA CARRIED EVEN MORE SILVER THAN THAT.
IF FOUND,
IT WOULD BE THE LARGEST CACHE OF SILVER COINS AND BULLION
EVER DISCOVERED.
NOW A NEW OBJECT HAS THE CREW'S ATTENTION.
YOU WANT ME TO TURN IT AROUND, SEE IF IT'S A HIGH HEEL?
IT IS A HIGH HEEL.
THIS WOMAN'S SHOE IS A GRIM REMINDER
THAT SHIPWRECKS ARE ALSO STORIES OF PERSONAL DISASTER.
Dobson: YEAH, IT WAS A PASSENGER SHIP.
THERE WAS QUITE A FEW WOMEN ON BOARD.
IN FACT, THE MINISTERS ON BOARD
REMARKED ABOUT ONE PASSENGER, MRS. HOY,
DIED IN THE ARMS OF HER DAUGHTER.
AND HER BODY SLIPPED OFF INTO THE SEA,
SO THIS COULD BE HER SHOES.
Narrator: MARY HOY AND HER DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH,
WERE AMERICAN CITIZENS WHOSE DEATHS OUTRAGED THE NATION.
COULD THIS SHOE HAVE BELONGED TO ONE OF THEM?
NEIL MAY NEVER KNOW.
BUT IT'S A VERY REAL CONNECTION
TO THE HUMAN LOSS ON THE ON THIS WRECK.
ALL THAT'S LEFT OF IT IS THE LEATHER SOLE.
IT'S THE THICKEST, MOST DURABLE PART OF A SHOE
AND OFTEN THE LAST TO DECAY UNDERWATER.
THEY NOW HAVE TWO SOLID OBJECTS FROM THE SITE
THAT THEY CAN USE IN COURT TO CLAIM THE SHIPWRECK.
Adams: NICE WORK.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE,
AND NOW THEY NEED TO RETRIEVE THE ROV AND RACE BACK TO PORT.
Holmwood: BRIDGE, ROV.
THAT'S US HEADING BACK TO THE TMS TO START RECOVERY.
Narrator: ODYSSEY'S COMPETITOR
LEFT THE WRECK SITE ALMOST 12 HOURS AGO.
IF THEY HAVE AN ARTIFACT,
THE J.L. HAS TO PLAY CATCH-UP IN THE RACE TO COURT.
BUT SUDDENLY, THE ROV IS ON A COLLISION COURSE
WITH THE HULL OF THE WRECK.
HAUL IN. WATCH. WATCH OUT.
HAUL IN, HAUL IN, HAUL IN. [BLEEP]
Narrator: ODYSSEY HAS JUST COMPLETED THEIR DIVE
ON WHAT THEY HOPE IS THE LACONIA, BUT NOW THEIR ROV
IS ABOUT TO BE SWEPT DIRECTLY INTO THE WRECKAGE.
HAUL IN. WATCH. WATCH OUT.
HAUL IN, HAUL IN, HAUL IN. [BLEEP]
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY WE FOUND THE HULL OF THE SHIP.
Narrator: THROUGH THE DARKNESS,
THE CAMERA SHOWS JAGGED METAL DIRECTLY AHEAD.
BACK OFF OF THAT. HAUL IN AND BACK OFF.
ROV PILOTS QUICKLY HAUL IN THE ROBOT'S TETHER,
FORCING IT BACK INTO ITS CAGE AND OUT OF DANGER.
Adams: YOU HAVE TO BE QUICK WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN
OR YOU END UP LOSING THE VEHICLE.
Narrator: IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS,
THEY MANAGED TO CAPTURE
A SINGLE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SHIP'S SUPERSTRUCTURE --
A GLIMPSE OF THE PORTHOLES.
IT'S THE LAST THEY'LL SEE OF THE GREAT WRECK ON THIS TRIP.
NOW THEIR ROV ARRIVES SAFELY ON THE SURFACE
WITH ARTIFACTS IN HAND.
Dobson: WELL, JUST THAT IT'S GOT THE NAIL --
THE TACKS HAVE GONE.
I'M SURE FROM THIS WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND OUT
WHAT KIND OF SHOE IT WAS
OR WHETHER IT WAS PART OF A BOOT, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: NEIL HAS PLENTY OF ARCHAEOLOGY TO DO.
BUT FIRST, ODYSSEY HAS A RACE TO WIN.
IN ORDER TO ARREST THE LACONIA SHIPWRECK,
THEY NEED TO HAND-DELIVER SMALL SAMPLES OF THEIR FINDS
TO A COURT IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND THEY NEED TO GET THERE BEFORE THE COMPETITION.
Adams: WE'RE IN DINGLE BAY OFF THE WEST COAST OF IRELAND,
AND WE'RE DROPPING ONE OF OUR CREW MEMBERS, SCOTT, OFF
SO HE CAN FLY BACK TO THE U.S.
Narrator: THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET THE WRECK DATA BACK HOME.
A FISHING BOAT COMES OUT
TO TRANSPORT SCOTT STEMM TO THE MAINLAND.
FROM THERE, IT'S BACK TO THE U.S.
SEE YOU LATER. THANK YOU, CAPTAIN.
LOOK BEHIND YOU AS YOU'RE GOING DOWN, EH?
Narrator: AS SCOTT HEADS OFF TO SEAL THE DEAL,
CONGRATULATIONS ARE ALREADY POURING IN FROM HEADQUARTERS.
YEAH, I MEAN, FROM THE AMOUNT OF E-MAILS --
IN FACT, MY E-MAIL IN-BOX IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE --
I THINK THEY'RE PRETTY EXCITED.
Narrator: WITHIN DAYS, ODYSSEY BECOMES THE FIRST TEAM
TO LAY LEGAL CLAIM
TO THE WRECK THEY BELIEVE IS THE S.S. LACONIA.
ON THE OCEAN BOTTOM COULD BE 33 TONS OF PURE SILVER
WAITING TO BE LOCATED AND RECOVERED.
DAN'S RUN OF BAD LUCK IS DEFINITELY OVER.
AND IN THE END, HE ALSO BROUGHT UP SOME HISTORY.
IT'LL BE NEIL'S JOB TO BRING AS MUCH OF THAT HISTORY TO LIGHT
AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S ARCH TIME ON THE LETHBRIDGE!
LET'S SEE WHAT'S IN THE BLUE BUCKET TODAY!
Narrator: THIS TILE IS ACTUALLY MADE OF CONCRETE,
SO IT PROBABLY ISN'T FROM THE SHIP'S GYMNASIUM AFTER ALL.
Dobson: THE RED PAINT'S FADING ALREADY.
WHEN I CAME OUT HERE,
I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE DOING AS MUCH ARCHEOLOGY AS THIS.
Narrator: IT'S GOING TO NEED MORE STUDY.
BUT THE MOST DIAGNOSTIC ARTIFACT FROM THE WRECK SITE IS THE SHOE.
WE'VE GOT A FEMALE SHOE HERE.
CIRCA 1917, OF COURSE.
AND THAT'S THE INSIDE, SO I WOULD SAY IT'S A LEFT SHOE.
Narrator: THROUGH RESEARCH,
NEIL HOPES TO LEARN EXACTLY WHO IT ONCE BELONGED TO.
Dobson: WE'RE GONNA SOLVE A MYSTERY TODAY!
I'VE GOT A NAME ON IT.
Narrator: THERE WERE TWO DOZEN FEMALE PASSENGERS ABOARD LACONIA.
ELIZABETH AND MARY HOY, AN AMERICAN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER,
WERE THE ONLY ONES TO LOSE THEIR LIVES.
THE SHAPE OF THIS SHOE'S SOLE IS AN IMPORTANT FORENSIC DETAIL.
IT'S A TYPE THAT WAS MADE IN THE UNITED STATES
DURING THE EARLY 1900'S.
IT'S OWNER WAS PROBABLY AN AMERICAN.
BUT AFTER CONSULTING WITH EXPERTS ON THE MAINLAND,
NEIL FINDS THAT THE LETTERS IMPRINTED DIRECTLY ON THE SOLE
ARE INCONCLUSIVE.
ITS OWNER'S IDENTITY CAN'T YET BE PROVEN DEFINITIVELY.
ODYSSEY'S WORK WILL CONTINUE, BUT THE CLAIMING
OF TWO POTENTIALLY VERY VALUABLE SHIPWRECKS
MARKS A SUCCESSFUL END TO THEIR SEASON AT SEA.
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS,
THEY'LL PLAN FOR NEXT SUMMER'S SEARCH SEASON
AND PREPARE FOR A RETURN
WITH EQUIPMENT SUITED FOR A HEAVY RECOVERY OPERATION.
THERE WILL BE OTHER WRECKS
TO DISCOVER, DIVE, AND EXPLORE...
MORE TREASURE TO FIND...
AND MORE HISTORY TO MAKE.
Peterson: OKAY JOSE, LETS GO TO WATER.
Jose: Roger.