New Sunken Military Craft Act Protects Wreck Sites

October 2004, President George W. Bush signed the FY2005 National Defense Authorization Act protecting sunken military vessels, aircraft and spacecraft from unauthorized disturbance. This law also protects the remains and personal effects of their crews from salvage, recovery and other disturbance without authorization from the secretary of the military department. These wreck sites are entitled to sovereign immunity when they sank and remain the property of the US military until officially abandoned. H.R. 4200, also titled Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act, does not affect recreational diving, commercial fishing or routine operation of ships in these areas. Rather it protects and preserves them as supported by Project AWARE Foundation’s Respect Our Wrecks campaign. Divers continue to have the privilege of non-intrusive access to these underwater sites that are part of our cultural heritage and maritime history. Project AWARE Foundation’s Respect Our Wrecks campaign encourages divers to respect the heritage and loss, respect the environment, respect the history and archaeology and respect the law. Many military wrecks are the final resting places of Americans who died defending our country. Unauthorized disturbance threatens the sanctity of these war graves. The Sunken Military Craft Act enforces the importance of treating these war graves with respect and honor. It preserves wrecks holding the clues to our maritime past and keeps them undisturbed for future generations. This same law also allows protection for foreign military vessels in US waters. For detailed information on H.R. 4200 visit www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-12.htm.