U.S. Signs Agreement to Protect RMS Titanic Wreck Site

Published Jun 24, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

The four nations most closely associated with the Titanic -- Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the U.S. -- negotiated the agreement, beginning in 1997. Concerted action by these countries would effectively foreclose financing for and the technical ability to conduct unregulated salvage and other potentially harmful activities.

Though it rests at a depth of 12,000 feet, the Titanic continues to capture the attention of people around the globe. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) recently sponsored a scientific expedition to the wreck that included explorer Robert D. Ballard, the man who discovered it in 1985. He attributed newfound damage to the wreck to submarines landing on the deck for salvage operations, filming, and tourism.

Under the agreement, the Titanic is designated as an international maritime memorial, recognizing the men, women and children who perished and that their remains should be given appropriate respect. Parties will also protect the scientific, cultural and historical significance of the wreck site by regulating, within their jurisdiction, dives to the Titanic shipwreck, including the hull, cargo, and other artifacts at the wreck site.

The U.K. signed the agreement in November, 2003 and, at the same time, enacted implementing legislation. The Agreement enters into force when two or more nations have ratified or accepted it; once in force, it applies to each subsequent country upon ratification, acceptance, or accession. Once implementing legislation is signed into U.S. law, the U.S. can deposit its acceptance, and the Agreement will become effective for the U.S.

As directed by the Titanic Maritime Memorial Act, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, the Department of State will forward the signed agreement and recommended implementing legislation to Congress.

The agreement does not apply to the existing collection of 6,000 Titanic artifacts that have been salvaged pursuant to admiralty court orders, but it is consistent with those orders and current scientific principles of historic and cultural resource conservation.