On Oct. 21, 2007, I posted a Complaint that was filed by a Mr. Keith Bray against Odyssey Marine for a breach of contract issue concerning research that Mr. Bray supplied Odyssey with for the Land's End site (one of three sites arrested by Odyssey and contested by Spain).
Original Complaint: http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/florida/flmdce/8:2006cv01685/186117/58/1.html
On Jan 9th, 2008 Odyssey Marine answered the complaint and practically denied every point.
Odyssey's Answer to Complaint: http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/florida/flmdce/8:2006cv01685/186117/79/
In an attachment to Odyssey's Answer, an exhibit entitled "Research Agreement" clearly shows that Mr. Bray's research was specifically regarding the MERCHANT ROYAL. Up until now there has only been speculation that the Merchant Royal was the vessel that Odyssey found at the Land's End site. For the first time it is now documented that the Merchant Royal was a ship Odyssey was looking for (and might have found).
Research Agreement: http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/florida/flmdce/8:2006cv01685/186117/79/1.html
Odyssey signed the Research Agreement with Mr. Bray to be effective on April 1, 2006. In the Sept., 2006 Verified Complaint filed by Odyssey against the Land's End site, Odyssey stated that they found the unidentified shipwreck in the "summer of 2006". I find this very interesting.
Sept. 2006 Verified Complaint in Admiralty In Rem: http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/florida/flmdce/8:2006cv01685/186117/1/
To be fair, Odyssey Marine, in their Answer to the Intervening Complaint filed by Bray, effectively "Denied" that they found the shipwreck using Bray's research. But they did admit that they were looking for the Merchant Royal and had obtained information about it "through other sources" (other than Bray's research, that is).
Now, having said all that, only Odyssey Marine knows for sure. I may have jumped to the wrong conclusion or Odyssey may have gone to the site suggested by Mr. Bray and other sources and found a completely different ship. But now there is more than mere speculation that Odyssey Marine was looking for and may have found the Merchant Royal.