A Tampa-based shipwreck salvage company has signed a deal for a 13-episode series to air on the Discovery Channel next year.

Odyssey Marine Exploration, a leader in deep ocean shipwreck exploration, is teaming up with Emmy-winning JWM Productions to record the company’s 2008 Atlas Search expeditions for a TV series, the company announecd today.

Discovery Channel expects to premiere the 11-part series in 2009. Production is slated to begin immediately.

Company officials say the series will follow the Odyssey Marine Exploration team as they brave high seas, heavy weather, political red tape and courtroom clashes to keep their research vessels and deep ocean equipment operational on the hunt for underwater archaeological sites and shipwrecks that each have unique stories to tell.

Episodes will include forensic analysis with computer graphics as well as experts laboring to analyze and conserve fragile artifacts recovered from the watery depths.  Each episode, viewers will be involved in solving dramatic maritime mysteries and treated to spectacular underwater HD video of shipwreck discoveries through the cameras of Odyssey’s Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), as well as the real life battle to keep the treasures they discover.

“We have the most experienced team of shipwreck explorers in the world manning our ships, and on a regular basis they make amazing discoveries in the deep ocean - things that have never before been seen by human eyes. We’re proud of the exploration and archaeological work our team accomplishes in the challenging offshore environment, and for a long time we’ve been looking for the right format to share the excitement of our expeditions with viewers around the world,” stated Greg Stemm, Odyssey’s Chief Executive Officer. “

“Odyssey is recovering not only treasures, but fascinating shipwreck stories from the bottom of the world’s oceans.  And our job is to deliver these stories, discoveries and adventures to Discovery’s viewers in a way that brings them right into the action,” explained Jason Williams, President and Co-founder of JWM Productions. “We’re looking forward to an exciting season with unparalleled coverage of Odyssey’s operations.”

“This series will give our viewers a front row seat as Odyssey’s archaeological and forensics teams search for sunken treasures and unravel the mysteries of long-lost shipwrecks,” said John Ford, president and general manager of Discovery Channel.  “This compelling 11-part series will show viewers the intense drama of underwater detective work and we are excited to have JWM creating this series for our audiences around the globe.”

Odyssey Marine Exploration discovered the Civil War era shipwreck of the SS Republic in 2003 and recovered over 50,000 coins and 14,000 artifacts from the site nearly 1,700 feet deep. In May 2007, the Company announced the historic deep-ocean treasure recovery of over 500,000 silver and gold coins, weighing 17 tons, from a Colonial era site code-named “Black Swan.” Odyssey has several shipwreck projects in various stages of development around the world.

Odyssey’s “SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure” exhibit recently ended its successful seven month engagement at the Tampa Museum of Science and Industry and is currently on display at the Detroit Science Center. For details on the Company’s activities and its commitment to the preservation of maritime heritage please visit http://www.shipwreck.net.