The remains of the Titanic’s which are lying at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean will now come under the protection of under UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.
Why the Titanic’s wreckage was NOT under this protection till date?
Until now, remains of the Titanic were not eligible for protection under UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, as it applies only to the remains that are submerged for at least 100 years. Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage and sank on the night of April 14, 1912. Thus on April 14, 2012 it will be 100 th anniversary of the lugubrious event of the sinking of the Ship.
What is this convention all about and will it mean now for the Titanic’s remains?
As we know that the remains of the Titanic lie at a depth of 4,000 m off the coast of Newfoundland. Thus, no single nation can claim the site as the wreck is in international waters and the states only have jurisdiction over wrecks lying in their own waters and flying their flag. But as Titanic completes 100 years of its sinking, it comes under the UNESCO’s Convention on Protection of Underground Waters. This convention was adopted in 2001 by the General Conference of UNESCO. Up to now, 41 states have ratified the Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, which entered into force in January 2009.
Objective of the Convention:
To ascertain better protection of wrecks, sites, decorated caves and other cultural relics underwater. Thus from now on states parties to the UNESCO convention can outlaw the destruction, pillage, sale and dispersion of objects found at this site. Now on, they can take measures within their power to protect the wreck and ensure that the human remains there are treated with dignity. The UNESCO convention provides for a system of co-operation b/w states parties to prevent exploration deemed unscientific or unethical. In conformity with the convention, they also have the authority to seize any illicitly recovered artefacts and close their ports to all vessels undertaking exploration that is not done agreeing to the principles of the treaty.
Why the Titanic’s wreckage was NOT under this protection till date?
Until now, remains of the Titanic were not eligible for protection under UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, as it applies only to the remains that are submerged for at least 100 years. Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage and sank on the night of April 14, 1912. Thus on April 14, 2012 it will be 100 th anniversary of the lugubrious event of the sinking of the Ship.
What is this convention all about and will it mean now for the Titanic’s remains?
As we know that the remains of the Titanic lie at a depth of 4,000 m off the coast of Newfoundland. Thus, no single nation can claim the site as the wreck is in international waters and the states only have jurisdiction over wrecks lying in their own waters and flying their flag. But as Titanic completes 100 years of its sinking, it comes under the UNESCO’s Convention on Protection of Underground Waters. This convention was adopted in 2001 by the General Conference of UNESCO. Up to now, 41 states have ratified the Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, which entered into force in January 2009.
Objective of the Convention:
To ascertain better protection of wrecks, sites, decorated caves and other cultural relics underwater. Thus from now on states parties to the UNESCO convention can outlaw the destruction, pillage, sale and dispersion of objects found at this site. Now on, they can take measures within their power to protect the wreck and ensure that the human remains there are treated with dignity. The UNESCO convention provides for a system of co-operation b/w states parties to prevent exploration deemed unscientific or unethical. In conformity with the convention, they also have the authority to seize any illicitly recovered artefacts and close their ports to all vessels undertaking exploration that is not done agreeing to the principles of the treaty.
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