New Protection For Sunken Military Vessels And Aircraft Enacted
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Navy News Stand
From Naval Historical Center Public Affairs
Story Number: NNS041124-07
Release Date: 11/24/2004 10:35:00 AM
Official U.S. Navy file photo of a 3”/50-caliber
gun mounted on the starboard bow side of the
USS Susan B. Anthony’ (AP-72). The Susan B.
Anthony, a troop transport, struck a sea-mine
and sank on June 7, 1944. The booms and
damage to the number one hold (at the bow)
are easy to see in this image. Title XIV of the
recently passed 2005 National Defense
Authorization Act (Public Law Number 108-375),
preserves the sovereign status of sunken U.S.
military vessels and aircraft by codifying both
their protected sovereign status and permanent
U.S. ownership regardless of the passage of time.
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- On October 28, 2004, President George W. Bush signed the fiscal year 2005 National Defense Authorization Act. Title XIV of the Act (Public Law Number 108-375), preserves the sovereign status of sunken U.S. military vessels and aircraft by codifying both their protected sovereign status and permanent U.S. ownership regardless of the passage of time Oct. 28.
The purpose of Title XIV, generally referred to as the Sunken Military Craft act (SMCa), is to protect sunken military vessels and aircraft and the remains of their crews from unauthorized disturbance.
"Thousands of U.S. government warships and military aircraft lie in waters around the world," said Dr. Robert Neyland, Underwater Archaeology Branch, Naval Historical Center. "Recent advances in technology have made these wrecks accessible to looters, treasure-hunters, and others who may cause damage. With this legal protection, the potential for irreversible harm to important historical resources is significantly reduced.”
Moreover, many military wrecks are the final resting places of Americans who died defending our country. Unauthorized disturbance threatens the sanctity of these war graves.
“This issue is a growing concern both nationally and internationally because in addition to war graves, many sunken warships and aircraft contain objects of a sensitive archaeological or historical nature”, said Neyland.
The new law codifies commonly understood principles of international law and existing case law confirming that sunken U.S. military vessels and aircraft are sovereign property. This new statute provides for archaeological research permits and civil enforcement measures, including substantial fines, to prevent unauthorized disturbance.
The Department of the Navy will issue implementing regulations authorized under this law consistent with present permitting procedures.
This law does not affect salvage of commercial merchant shipwrecks. It does not impact the traditional uses of the sea, including commercial fishing, recreational diving, laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and the routine operation of ships.
Information regarding Department of the Navy policy and procedures with regard to sunken Navy ship and aircraft wrecks is available online at http://www.history.navy.mil/ under the Underwater Archaeology Branch section.
The current application guidelines for archaeological research permits on ship and aircraft wrecks under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy are located in 32 Code of Regulations Chapter VI, Part 767.
For related news, visit the Naval Historical Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navhist.
____
www.airplanes-underwater.blogspot.com
Navy News Stand
From Naval Historical Center Public Affairs
Story Number: NNS041124-07
Release Date: 11/24/2004 10:35:00 AM
Official U.S. Navy file photo of a 3”/50-caliber
gun mounted on the starboard bow side of the
USS Susan B. Anthony’ (AP-72). The Susan B.
Anthony, a troop transport, struck a sea-mine
and sank on June 7, 1944. The booms and
damage to the number one hold (at the bow)
are easy to see in this image. Title XIV of the
recently passed 2005 National Defense
Authorization Act (Public Law Number 108-375),
preserves the sovereign status of sunken U.S.
military vessels and aircraft by codifying both
their protected sovereign status and permanent
U.S. ownership regardless of the passage of time.
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- On October 28, 2004, President George W. Bush signed the fiscal year 2005 National Defense Authorization Act. Title XIV of the Act (Public Law Number 108-375), preserves the sovereign status of sunken U.S. military vessels and aircraft by codifying both their protected sovereign status and permanent U.S. ownership regardless of the passage of time Oct. 28.
The purpose of Title XIV, generally referred to as the Sunken Military Craft act (SMCa), is to protect sunken military vessels and aircraft and the remains of their crews from unauthorized disturbance.
"Thousands of U.S. government warships and military aircraft lie in waters around the world," said Dr. Robert Neyland, Underwater Archaeology Branch, Naval Historical Center. "Recent advances in technology have made these wrecks accessible to looters, treasure-hunters, and others who may cause damage. With this legal protection, the potential for irreversible harm to important historical resources is significantly reduced.”
Moreover, many military wrecks are the final resting places of Americans who died defending our country. Unauthorized disturbance threatens the sanctity of these war graves.
“This issue is a growing concern both nationally and internationally because in addition to war graves, many sunken warships and aircraft contain objects of a sensitive archaeological or historical nature”, said Neyland.
The new law codifies commonly understood principles of international law and existing case law confirming that sunken U.S. military vessels and aircraft are sovereign property. This new statute provides for archaeological research permits and civil enforcement measures, including substantial fines, to prevent unauthorized disturbance.
The Department of the Navy will issue implementing regulations authorized under this law consistent with present permitting procedures.
This law does not affect salvage of commercial merchant shipwrecks. It does not impact the traditional uses of the sea, including commercial fishing, recreational diving, laying of submarine cables and pipelines, and the routine operation of ships.
Information regarding Department of the Navy policy and procedures with regard to sunken Navy ship and aircraft wrecks is available online at http://www.history.navy.mil/ under the Underwater Archaeology Branch section.
The current application guidelines for archaeological research permits on ship and aircraft wrecks under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy are located in 32 Code of Regulations Chapter VI, Part 767.
For related news, visit the Naval Historical Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navhist.
____
www.airplanes-underwater.blogspot.com
posted by Pedro Caleja at 12:20 AM
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