Legal provisions
International law of the sea
The law of the sea is part of international law.
- United Nations UNCLOS Convention on the Law of the Sea ("United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”UNCLOS) dated December 10, 1982, signed in Montego Bay (Jamaica)
- Protection of cultural heritage underwater (“Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage”) From 2001
National law of the sea
German law
- Offshore law (check)
British law
- “Protection of Wrecks Act” (1973)
- “Protection of Military Remains Act” 1986
United States Law
- “Abandoned Shipwrecks Act” 1987
Wrecks
property
Even after their sinking, warships legally belong to the country under whose flag they last sailed.
In the case of merchant ships, it is not uncommon for different ones to collide national Legal conceptions. For one thing, that will Last owner property used, but this may expire after a longer or longer period (abandonment). On the other hand, a property right is based on the Locations accepted.
Naval war graves
Wrecks of warships whose crew could not be salvaged are considered naval war graves. They are protected from salvage and looting by international law. This also applies to penetration into the wrecks.
