RECEIVER OF WRECK ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF WRECK AMNESTY REPORT

18 Jul 2002 02:40 PM

The Official Report on the UK's first ever Wreck Amnesty was released today by the Receiver of Wreck.

The Wreck Amnesty, launched by the Receiver of Wreck on the 23rd January 2001, ran for three months and encouraged divers and other sea-users from all over the UK to come forward and report items recovered from wrecked vessels, hovercraft and aircraft which they had in their possession. The Amnesty also

- aimed to identify objects that were capable of being returned to their rightful owners

- allow heritage organisations the opportunity to identify wreck finds which may be of historical importance and to record information about possible sites of archaeological interest

- to allow the Receiver of Wreck the opportunity to clarify for finders the correct legal procedures and to encourage finders to follow the correct procedures in future, and

- to make future prosecutions of persistent offenders under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 more effective.

The illustrated Report details some of the thousands of items declared under the Amnesty, including many which were of historic interest or were potentially dangerous munitions removed from First and Second World War wrecks.

Artefacts detailed in the Report include cannon and cannonballs, portholes, copper and lead ingots, coins, including pieces of eight, jewellery, silverware, cutlery, and more fragile artefacts such as bottles of perfume, champagne, gin and vodka, and large collections of crockery. The Report also illustrates the more unusual finds, such as toilet bowls, toilet pumps, toilet roll holders and chamber pots, as well as a pair of white lace panties!

Sophia Exelby, Receiver of Wreck, said:

"I am pleased to say that this first ever Wreck Amnesty was a great success. In general, finders from all over the UK welcomed the opportunity to set the record straight and we are now very pleased to be able to share the results of the Amnesty in this Official Report. The MCA has a responsibility for our underwater cultural heritage in relation to recovered wreck and this Report does much to promote a greater understanding amongst sea users of their responsibilities under the law. This was brought very much into focus by the recovery of the wreck which had been strewn across the beaches of South Cornwall earlier this year."

Notes to Editors

Copies of the Wreck Amnesty report are free and are available directly from the Receiver of Wreck at:

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Row@mcga.gov.uk

Tel: 023 8032 9474 / 476

Photographs of various items reported under the amnesty are available from the MCA press office.

The Receiver of Wreck is responsible for that part of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 that relates to wreck and salvage. The Receiver of Wreck is appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport and is located within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Merchant Shipping Act, Section 236 says that:

(1) If any person finds or takes possession of any wreck in United Kingdom waters or finds or takes possession of any wreck outside United Kingdom waters and brings it within those waters he shall -

(a) if he is the owner of it, give notice to the Receiver stating that he has found or taken possession of it and describing the marks by which it may be recognised;

(b) if he is not the owner of it, give notice to the Receiver that he has found or taken possession of it and, as directed by the Receiver, either hold it to the Receiver's order or deliver it to the Receiver.

(2) if any person fails without reasonable excuse, to comply with subsection (1) above he shall be liable, on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale and if he is not the owner of the wreck he shall also -

(a) forfeit any claim to salvage; and
(b) be liable to pay twice the value of the wreck -
(i) if it is claimed, to the owner of it; or
(ii) if it is unclaimed, to the person entitled to the wreck.

For further information please contact
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on:
(023) 8032 9401

Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on the Web at www.mcga.gov.uk