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16 Volume 73 Number 1
15 February 2021
salvage companies’ methods of getting at sub-
merged cargoes was to simply blow them apart
with explosives. When the fog settled divers
would go pick up the pieces. Keith Jessop had an-
ticipated this. Being an ex-serviceman, he knew it
would be a delicate matter so his assurances were
written down and he reinforced the promise that
they would cut their way in. The recovery opera-
tion would NOT include explosives except if an
emergent circumstance involving threats to lives
of personnel on site were concerned. This might
involve using shaped charges when it was known
that ordnance was in close proximity to the di-
vers. Representative of the MOD would sail with
them and in the event of human remains being
found, decisions would be made at the time as
how to deal with them in the most respectful ap-
propriate manner possible. (Risdon Beasley and
others including Seaway lost the contract because
of proposed extensive use of explosives at the
wreck site) The “War Grave” issue did not end
there and later caused great controversy and a
court case, discussed in Part 2 of this account.
Mr. Ringrose then approached Keith saying he
wanted a £100,000 deposit in a Swiss Bank ac-
count for the exclusive use of HRH Prince Charles
as payment for his Royal Influence in securing
contracts. Keith Jessop was no fool and saw
through this right away. Keith refused saying that
the proceeds of the gold hunt would be spent af-
ter it was found not before. Ringrose was known
to be very close to the lawyer David Bona. Bona
was constantly getting Keith to sign papers he
wasn’t able to read at the time because of the
swift business dealings leading up to the contract
award.
The Salvage Contract was finally awarded to Jes-
sop Marine and plans began in earnest to set sail.
One hurdle remained however, convincing the
Russian Government. The USSR was still in exist-
ence and the Cold War in full progress. Any west-
ern attempt to approach the USSR military or ci-
vilian authorities was treated with suspicion. The
wreck site was right in the middle of the Eastern
Block fleet exercise areas. It took a year to get
the Russians to the table and a meeting was ar-
ranged in London between Jessop, his partners
and the Russians at a confidential location ar-
ranged by an Insurance Company which did a lot
of business with the Soviet Government. The Rus-
sians wanted to inspect the ship earmarked for
the operation and insisted on a representative of
the Russian Government being on board for the
whole voyage. It turned out better than they
thought. The Russians would only approve if Jes-
sop Marine a British firm did the work. The Sovi-
ets made it clear they would not agree to a Nor-
wegian firm. Clearly, they liked Keith and his
ability to drink scotch whisky (they were meeting
in Aberdeen) in large quantities, played its part in
winning the Russians over! However, it didn’t
stop one of the Russians from attempting to re-
cruit Keith Jessop as a Soviet Agent!
Now it was a firm go with the press involved and
it hit the headlines like a storm. Veterans groups
were outraged by what they saw as war grave
desecration. Eventually the storm abated. Reas-
surances were given and it was recognised that
such a valuable cargo, if not recovered by these
responsible professionals and which was located
in now accessible waters, would be raided by un-
authorized salvors who would have no interest in
respecting a war grave.
Meanwhile, Decca expert Carl Oberman had been
studying Keith’s research material and made an
important discovery. Remember Ken Knox the
trawlerman who had his nets caught in Edin-
burgh’s wreck? Oberman worked out that Knox’s
Decca fix at the time was inaccurate due to an
equipment error. Ken Knox was actually much
further north than he thought he was. Hence the
failure of Jessop’s previous search. Oberman and
his team also determined that to ensure the most
accurate of positioning on the new search Decca
masts would have to be erected at Vardo and
Gamvik in northern Norway. This would take time
there was deep snow at those sites.
All the delays took their toll: The price of gold
was falling from a base of US $800 an ounce.
(Rothschilds Bank had been contracted to receive
the gold and establish its value. Tsarist gold was
not pure and worth much less than Soviet gold
which was 99.9% pure) The promised ship was
now no longer available, as it had been contract-
ed out on another deep-sea job. (Vessels on
standby were not earning the vast sums needed
to keep them afloat) OSA had, however, secured
a second ship that was available named the
Dammtor. Though disappointed at first, after in-
spection, Keith was certain that this ship was one
of the finest survey vessels he had ever seen and
if this one couldn’t find Edinburgh no ship could.
On April 30th Dammtor set sail from Peterhead
Scotland without Keith Jessop. Although Jessop
Marine was still in control there was nothing, he
could do to advance the search. The people doing
it at OSA, and Racal-Decca were experts and he
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