PENALTIES

Penalties under the merchant shipping act 1995
Failure to report wreck which has been raised (even if you own the wreck), constitutes an offence under section 236 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Finders who do not report their finds are liable to pay a fine of up to £2,500 for each offence, will lose any salvage rights, and have to pay the person entitled to the find twice the value of the find.

Finders who do not report their finds may be prosecuted, and those who are found guilty will then have a criminal record.

Related offences under other legislation
As well as incurring penalties under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, there may also be associated offences under other acts such as the Theft Act 1968, The Firearms Act 1968, the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

For further information on these offences, please contact the Ministry of Defence and Department for Culture, Media and Sport directly.