In the wake of the discovery in the sea near Haifa, Israel, of ancient tin and copper ingots IAMS announced a new archaeo- metallurgical research programme to study ancient metal trade routes as represented by metal hoards found in the sea. Preliminary investigation of the ingot finds strongly suggested the need for further, more intensive exploration in the sea in search of reliably located and better dated metal finds, before the commencement of a full-scale archaeo-metallurgical research programme. E. Galili of the Centre for Maritime Studies, Haifa University (CMSH), reports here on the finds made by recent underwater explorations (surveys and excavations). IAMS, in collaboration with Dr N.H. Gale of the Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, has now begun the systematic archaeo- metallurgical investigation of these important and, mostly, unique finds. The extractive-metallurgical aspects and the manufacturing processes of the different types of tine and copper ingots, together with their dating and provenance, will be investigated. This work is expected to contribute important information towards a better understanding of the trade routes of metal in the Ancient World.