Namdeb spokesman Hilifa Mbako confirmed that three Ministers - Errki Nghimtina of Mines and Energy, Dr Abraham Iyambo of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Willem Konjore of the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture - flew to Oranjemund on Thursday to inspect the site.

He declined to give any further information, referring all queries to the Office of the President instead.

This office could not be reached for comment over the weekend.

Another well-placed source indicated that the Portuguese government had contacted President Hifikepunye Pohamba's office directly, which had led to him sending the ministerial delegation to Oranjemund.

"The Ministers have returned from their visit in Oranjemund with an order that nothing further should be said by anyone on the shipwreck until further notice," the source said.

Government has made it clear that it has now taken full charge of the matter, the source added.

In a written statement released to the media on Friday, Nghimtina confirmed the three Ministers' visit to the site of the discovery.

Nghimtina thanked Namdeb "for all the phenomenal work they have done in protecting the site where the wreck was found and providing security for the artefacts".

He added that "appropriate officials" from relevant Government departments, being archaeologists, the National Heritage Council and the National Museum of Namibia, "now need space and time to carry out vital analytical work to provide answers to the many questions that we have".

Because Government also needs to study all the information available at this stage to make an informed decision about the way forward, "there will be no further information or media comments on this matter - until further notice", Nghimtina stated.

Namdeb kept news of the sensational discovery secret for a month before announcing on April 30 to widespread international interest that they had found what is believed to be the oldest shipwreck discovered in sub-Saharan Africa.

The wreck was discovered by Namdeb geologist Bob Burrell, who came across copper ingots while excavating an ancient beach terrace in search of diamonds.

Mining in the area - which appeared to be below sea level and buried about six metres deep - was halted immediately and experts brought in to excavate the sensational find.

Further investigation brought to light brass swivel-cannons dating back 500 years, as well as a treasure hoard of Portuguese and Spanish gold and silver coins, 50 ivory tusks, pewter ware and ancient navigational equipment.

Under Namibian heritage laws, the wreck and its contents belong to the Namibian Government.

Some reports on an Oranjemund community online forum suggested that the gold alone was worth some US$2,2 million (about N$16 million).

The origin of the ship remains unclear, but Namdeb-retained archaeologist Dr Dieter Noli previously said the large amount of Portuguese silver found in the remains was significant.

Trade in ivory was at the time reserved for royalty, Noli said.

There is also intense speculation that the wreck might be one of four Portuguese royal caravels, one of which was captained by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, which disappeared off the Cape of Good Hope in May 1500 in a storm.

Dias's caravel was part of a fleet of 13 ships that had sailed from Portugal on March 9 1500 under the command of Pedro Alvarez Cabral and got lost at sea before discovering Brazil by accident a month later.

The fleet was to establish trade with the Far East, after Arab traders there had previously rejected as inferior Portuguese goods offered by another Portuguese seafarer, Vasco da Gama, on his first visit there, one website dedicated to maritime history suggested.

The fleet, already depleted by half at that stage, then headed east for the Indies before disaster struck off the southern African coast in middle May, various websites indicated.

Dias, who in late December 1488 was blown past the Cape by another such storm, was presumed lost at sea on May 29, various websites indicated.

* John Grobler is a freelance journalist; 081 240 1587

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