US Government Challenges Titanic Expedition Plans
The US government is stepping up to challenge a planned expedition set to recover historical artifacts from the Titanic, the world’s most famous shipwreck. The expedition is being organized by RMS Titanic Inc (RMST), a Georgia-based company that holds the salvage rights to the wreck.
RMST is known for showcasing recovered artifacts from the North Atlantic site where the Titanic rests, including items like silverware and even a piece of the ship’s hull. However, the US government’s battle to halt this expedition is taking place in the US District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, which oversees Titanic-related salvage matters.
At the heart of the issue are federal laws and an agreement with the UK that designates the shipwreck as a sacred gravesite. The US government is concerned about potential disruptions to any human remains that might still be present at the site.
The legal dispute comes in the wake of a tragic incident involving the Titan submersible, which suffered an implosion near the sunken Titanic, resulting in the loss of five lives. The Titanic, famously sunk by an iceberg during its maiden voyage in 1912, claimed over 1,500 lives out of the 2,208 people on board.
The expedition by RMST is tentatively scheduled for May of next year, as outlined in a report submitted to the court in June.
RMST has a history of defending its salvage rights against infringement attempts. The company has stated its willingness to collaborate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a US agency representing the public’s interest in the wreck. While RMST intends to proceed without a permit, US government lawyers argue that the company needs approval from the US secretary of commerce, who oversees NOAA.
RMST’s stance is based on maritime law precedent, asserting that only the Norfolk court has jurisdiction over this matter. This isn’t the first time the US government and RMST have clashed legally. In 2020, they engaged in a similar battle over an expedition to retrieve the Titanic’s radio, but those proceedings were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately didn’t materialize.