Treasure hunters haul in 61 tons of silver

TAMPA — Odyssey Marine Exploration says it set a new record with its most recent haul of 1,574 silver ingots from a British cargo ship sunk off the Ireland coast during World War II.

Treasure hunters, using remote-controlled underwater vehicles, recovered the silver, valued at as much as $35 million, from the SS Gairsoppa at a depth of about three miles, says a news release. The ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1941.

The 61 tons of silver recovered this month was the second haul from the ship for Tampa-based Odyssey Marine (symbol OMEX; recent price, $3.35). Last year, the company retrieved 48 tons of silver from the SS Gairsoppa.