Wreck Search Continues
After several years of "retirement" Captain Mike Hatcher, the Wreck Salvage King, is now back and working a new project, the details of which remain a closely guarded secret. He recently visited JW Fishers factory in East Taunton (MA, USA) to consult with underwater search specialists about the best equipment to use for his latest project. Hatcher and his associates selected the Pulse 12 boat-towed metal detector and Pulse 8X hand-held metal detector with interchangeable coils to add to their search operations.
Both detectors have the ability to find all types of metal targets including cannons, anchors, gold bars, silver ingots, and precious coins and jewelry. Fishers pulse induction technology enables them to reliably work in the highly mineralized ocean environment without giving false signals.
Captain Hatcher found was the wreck of the Tek Sing. Excavation of the site yielded the largest and most varied cargo of porcelain ever salvaged, with pieces dating from the 15th through the 19th century. More than 360,000 pieces were recovered. The Tek Sing was not the only shipwreck located by Captain Hatcher. He found the Dutch submarine K XVII which was sunk in the South China Sea in 1941 by a mine. A little later he located the Dutch East Indiaman Geldermalsen with a fabulous cargo of Chinese porcelain and gold bars. Known as the "Nanking cargo", the recovered treasure was sold at auction by Christie's. With USD50 million of recovered goodies, Capt. Mike went into "semi retirement".