Ultimately, the salvage will comprise not just the Esperanza, but all wrecks within the permit area. Because the value of the unidentified wrecks is speculative, the project structure has been based solely upon the expected salvage value of the Esperanza. 

When reviewing the information presented, it is quite easy to dismiss the sums mentioned as "unbelievable". In defense of the sums presented the following should be noted : 
* As a direct consequence of the Spanish King's monopoly on trading, there were a maximum of  two "Manila" galleons that sailed each year. These two galleons were responsible for transporting all of the Spanish governments' and the majority of wealthy nobles' and merchants' proceeds, from the Philippine territories to Mexico and then onwards to Spain. 
* As a result of the failure of the galleon Magallanes to undertake her voyage in 1805 and the fact that she was forced to turn back in 1806, the Merchants took the decision to combine the most valuable cargo from both the years' shipments into a single voyage i.e. the Esperanza. 
* The salvage value predicted compares well with similar recently successful projects

The Esperanza would likely have been carrying porcelain, finished gold and silver jewellery art pieces, ivory crafts pieces, gold bullion/currency and a significant quantity of silks and spices. The value of the cargo measured in current dollars is estimated to be of the order of US $700 million. It would be optimistic however to assume that this figure represents a realistic salvage value. The EMT has down-valued the expected recoverable salvage as a consequence of the following effects :

* 25 % of Merchant Guild cargo could have been perishable.
* Up to 50 % of the "undeclared personal" goods may have been salvaged.
* Up to 20 % of the total cargo could have been scattered around the area.
* Another 20 % of the remaining cargo may not be salvageable.

Allowing for recovery costs, losses (as detailed above), returns to the Philippines Museum and Panama Trust, refurbishment and auction costs, a net salvageable value of US$ 160 million (288 million gross) is predicted for the project. A comparison with the 'Atocha', a galleon lost in 1622 and recently salvaged, is shown below: