A stern public warning
Marine exploration has become increasingly popular, but the U.S. government has cautioned explorers to avoid shipwrecks. This warning was issued in July 2023 by the U.S. Maritime Administration.
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Marine exploration has become increasingly popular, but the U.S. government has cautioned explorers to avoid shipwrecks. This warning was issued in July 2023 by the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Why the sudden warning?
Shipwrecks have always belonged to the U.S. Maritime Administration, so why the sudden reminder to the public? The best explanation is the viral Titan submarine incident that sought to explore the Titanic but imploded before reaching its destination.
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This controversial Maine exploration sparked more adventurers to explore the deep, causing the government to raise awareness to protect public safety.
The Titan Submarine incident will always be tragic
The Titan submarine incident happens when human curiosity and poor execution meet underwater exploration. The crew had the same desire as anyone climbing Everest or visiting a site people only dream about.
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Unfortunately, the company in charge of the underwater vehicle used crude equipment with poor testing, causing the structure to crumble under heavy ocean pressure. It’s a horrifying reminder that curiosity without thorough planning can be deadly.
It's also not only about public safety.
While the government’s stern warning aims to save people from making regrettable decisions like the Titan Submarine passengers, there’s more to it. When ships sink, especially cargo ships, people with equipment rush to loot the wreckage.
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The government is against this large-scale looting as the items submerged still hold value and belong to the U.S. Maritime Administration. This warning ensured everyone was aware of the crime as they intensified their efforts to apprehend culprits.
You'll need permission to explore underwater wrecks now
Since the U.S. Maritime Administration has stated its zero tolerance for underwater Shipwreck explorations, adventurers must find another way. Fortunately, the government understands that there are other reasons to explore a wreck other than malicious looting.
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Therefore, explorers will need to get permission from the government to ensure their intent and equipment are worth the endeavour. According to the public notice, “No disturbance or recovery from these shipwrecks or their cargoes may legally take place without the express permission of MARAD.”
This applies to every shipwreck before and after the notice
Some laws have loopholes that the public exploits, but this stern public warning has all corners guarded. It stated that the administration owns all Shipwrecks under the Maritime Administration in their own waters, foreign waters, and international waters.
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It further states that their zero tolerance for Shipwreck exploration holds irrespective of when the ship sank. Therefore, whether it’s a 1980 or 2022 cargo ship, don’t touch it without permission.
Too many illegal lootings recently
There are several instances of U.S. shipwrecks being looted without permission, with one solid example being the exploitation of a U.K. battleship and battle cruiser sunk off the coast of Malaysia.
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The report revealed that a Chinese-flagged dredge spotted the wreck and tried extracting steel from the once-prestigious structure. Also, the steel being removed was highly valuable since it was made before nuclear weapons and had no radioactive contamination.
Some wrecks are grave sites and should be left alone
Besides preventing the public from making regrettable decisions and stealing U.S. property, the U.S. Maritime Administration wants to preserve the final resting ground of war sailors from desecration.
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Essentially, some of these shipwrecks are from WWII, located in the Java seas and South China, serving as the final resting place for over 4,000 soldiers. Unfortunately, a 2017 investigation shows they were desecrated for valuable steel.
Always ask for permission, or else…
There’s the possibility that someone’s stubborn enough to ignore these warnings and explore these underwater wrecks. That decision can attract fines, penalties, and even criminal charges, depending on the severity.
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Besides legal penalties, exploring a shipwreck poses a severe risk to one’s safety with issues such as decompression sickness, entanglement, or exposure to hazardous materials.
You can get access to the wreck if you
To get permission to visit a site, you’ll have to be part of a scientific expedition or cultural heritage project aimed at documenting or studying the wreck. You can also get the right to conduct archaeological research or salvage operations on the shipwreck.
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As for recreational divers, if you follow the rules for visiting a shipwreck, such as respecting the site, reporting findings, and avoiding damage, you can get permission to export the area.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the government’s warning against exploring shipwrecks wasn’t to cover up some conspiracy but to protect civilians from dangerous curiosity. Besides, some of these shipwrecks are the final resting place of former soldiers, and exploring them could be disrespectful.
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However, that doesn’t mean no one can explore these sites; make sure you’re part of a research team, a company contracted to salvage the area, or a respectful recreational diver with a legal permit.