REASONS TO REPORT YOUR WRECK FIND

It’s the Law - No matter how small or seemingly insignificant, all wreck material raised from the seabed must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck (under s. 236 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995).

Settlement of Salvage - If you report your find to the Receiver of Wreck, you may be entitled to a salvage award. This applies to both modern and historic material.

Settlement of Ownership - The procedure of reporting finds, means that owners and objects can be reunited, or alternatively, if no owner comes forward, the finder may be given the object in lieu of salvage.

Spreading Information - Historically or archaeologically important material which is reported to the Receiver of Wreck, is then recorded in the Maritime Section of the National Monuments Record in Swindon or at RCAHMW & RCAHMS etc. This makes previously unknown material available for study by students, archaeologists, and interested members of the public. If archaeological material is then placed in a museum, it will also be available for the enjoyment of others.

For further information please contact the Receiver of Wreck at row@mcga.gov.uk