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Inegemar
The questions you have asked would require a book to adequately answer, so
let me focus on UNESCO.
On behalf of the Professional Shipwreck Explorers Ass'n ("ProSEA") I have
attended the past 2 Paris UNESCO meetings of the governmental "experts" on
underwater cultural heritage ("UCH", or we call "shipwrecks") who are
debating the proposed International Convention for the Protection of the UCH
("Convention"). The voting representatives from over 100 nations are almost
all from their country's cultural ministry and virtually none of them has
ever been diving, much less ever seen a shipwreck. They nevertheless deem
themselves "experts". True experts in underwater search and recovery, like
members of ProSEA, are allowed only to observe the proceedings and cannot
speak on the record during the debate. Only organizations which favor
passage of the
They view the UNESCO Convention as an opportunity to enrich themselves by
claiming title, or ownership, of all shipwrecks up to 200 miles off their
coast. Wrecks lying further offshore can be salvaged--but anything recovered
cannot be landed in a port of a signator nation!
No UHC may ever be bought, sold or traded. Any law, regulation or agreement
creating any incentive for the recovery of UCH must be repealed. This
includes US and UK admiralty law, salvage permits issued, etc.
Any wreck sunk more than 25 years is legally abandoned--except warships or
other sovereign vessels, which are never abandoned.
Get the picture: everything belongs to the government and the private sector
and wreck divers are all going to become international outlaws. I believe
that the Convention poses the gravest threat to the future of underwater
exploration and that all divers--tekkies in particular--should be alarmed and
outraged.
What can you do? First join ProSEA as an associate member at $50.00. This
is the only international organization actively working to defend the rights
of all underwater explorers. The website can be accessed at: www.prosea.org
ProSEA is meeting on Nov 11-14 in Key West, FL and is holding a reception
there for divers and dive shop owners on Sunday Nov 14th at 8:00 at the
Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant, Greene & Elizabeth Sts. (on Key West
harbor) to introduce ourselves and our mission. Enjoy food and drink with
world-reknowned shipwreck finders and salvors and learn more about ProSEA.
Your question on salvage rights under existing law is a very broad one. Feel
free to contact me offline and I will address the specifics of your
particular situation.
Peter Hess
--
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