UN to protect Titanic wreck from salvage

Unesco, the UN cultural and scientific agency, says the wreck, which is located at a depth of 4,000 metres off the coast of Newfoundland, will fall under a 2001 convention on protecting underwater cultural heritage on the 100th anniversary of its sinking.

The convention only applies to remains submerged for more than 100 years – the liner sank in international waters after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic on the night of April 14, 1912

Unesco said the convention “can outlaw the destruction, pillage, sale and dispersion of objects found at the site. They can take all possible measures within their power to protect the wreck and ensure that the human remains there are treated with dignity.”