Iranian and Australian marine archeologists intend to embark on a 5-year plan to discover possible ships wrecked in Iran’s territorial waters of the Persian Gulf, though their plan awaits the go-ahead from heritage authorities, Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency reported.

In recent years Iranian marine archeologists have managed to discover some artifacts and relics that indicate some ancient ships and military armada are lying on the sea floor.

“Now after some negotiations with experts of marine archeology at Sydney University, a team is set up and plans to start its excursions in the Persian Gulf as soon as receiving a green light from Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (CHTO),” said Mahmood Mir-Eskandari, head of the team.

CHTO has approved the plan in principle and its chairman Hussein Marashi recently ratified a contract to buy a specialized submarine for underwater excavations.

The marine archeology department of CHTO was set up 3 years ago, but has made little progress due to lack of proper equipment.