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A fresh legal battle has erupted over the fate of cultural artifacts recovered from Bahamian waters, with a US federal court now at the center of a dispute that could determine whether the treasures remain in the Caribbean or are relocated to America.
According to The Tribune, Dan Porter and his Maritime Research & Recovery (MRR) salvage company filed legal documents on November 8, 2026, demanding that a North Texas federal court appoint a receiver to take custody of approximately $10 million in treasure and historical artifacts recovered from the Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas. The Spanish galleon sank on the Little Bahama Bank roughly 370 years ago and is believed to have been carrying a cargo valued at $1.5 billion. Porter claims he is entitled to a 25-30 percent share of artifacts recovered during 2021 and 2022, when MRR worked as a contractor for Allen Exploration.
The artifacts in question—jewels, gems, and other historical pieces—currently reside in Allen Exploration’s Bahamas Maritime Museum on Grand Bahama. Carl Allen, the multi-millionaire owner of Walker’s Cay and Allen Exploration, has pledged to keep the collection in the Bahamas as a cultural heritage asset and potential tourism draw. David Concannon, Allen Exploration’s spokesman and attorney, told The Tribune that the company will "resist" Porter’s demands, arguing that transferring the artifacts to the US would break Allen’s commitment to the Bahamian people and deprive the nation of a valuable economic opportunity.
The dispute stems from a bitter breakdown between the two parties over how treasure should be divided. In October 2026, North Texas Chief Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that Allen Exploration had breached its agreement with MRR by failing to distribute Porter’s rightful share of recovered artifacts. According to the court’s findings, $8.86 million in treasure was recovered in 2021 and 2022 combined, with the Bahamian government receiving a 33.8 percent share—higher than the stipulated 25 percent—based on the value of a gold pendant it claimed. The remaining $5.86 million became the subject of the dispute, with Porter arguing he should receive 30 percent of that amount, while Allen Exploration contends the 2019 services agreement gives it final say over which artifacts Porter receives.
Allen Exploration argues that Porter and MRR are attempting to circumvent the original 2019 services agreement by seeking a court-appointed receiver, a move the company says is unnecessary since it is already preparing a division in accordance with the contract terms. However, Porter’s legal team counters that Allen Exploration has refused to negotiate an equitable division and is unilaterally deciding which artifacts MRR will receive, necessitating court intervention. The case represents the latest chapter in a more than two-year legal battle that could reshape how maritime salvage disputes are resolved in the Caribbean region.
The Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas was a Spanish galleon that wrecked on the Little Bahama Bank approximately 370 years ago while carrying an estimated $1.5 billion cargo. The wreck has been the subject of salvage operations, with significant treasure recoveries occurring in 2021 and 2022 under a partnership between Maritime Research & Recovery and Allen Exploration. The Bahamian government has an agreement with Allen Exploration that grants it a 25 percent share of recovered treasure, with the remainder split between the salvage partners.
This dispute directly affects the Bahamas and Caribbean cultural heritage, as it determines whether significant historical artifacts recovered from Caribbean waters remain in the region for public benefit and tourism development or are removed to the United States. The case also establishes important precedent for how maritime salvage agreements are enforced in Caribbean jurisdictions and whether local governments can retain control over cultural treasures found in their waters.
Sources and attribution
- The Tribune
- The Race to Preserve Treasures From the 'Nuestra Señora …
- Treasure hunters' finds featured in new museum
- The Bahamas' New Maritime Museum Is Now Open in …
- BAHAMAS MARITIME MUSEUM | Allen Exploration
- Destination: Walker's Cay, The Bahamas
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