The Titanic shipwreck has been recognized as a World Heritage Site.
A United Nations press release on April 5th stated that the wreck of the famous Titanic, which sank 100 years ago, has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Underwater Heritage site requiring protection.
According to UNESCO, after 100 years of lying deep at the bottom of the sea, the wreck of the Titanic is now protected under the organization's convention on the protection of underwater cultural heritage. UNESCO also emphasized that the wreck of the Titanic lies at a depth of approximately 4,000 meters off the coast of Newfoundland, in international waters, therefore no country can claim jurisdiction over this heritage.
The historic Titanic lies deep at the bottom of the ocean. Source: Internet.
UNESCO has declared that the Titanic is now protected under a convention adopted by UNESCO in 2001, applicable to underwater monuments that have been submerged for at least 100 years. States participating in the convention have the right to prohibit acts of destruction, looting, theft, and distribution of artifacts found at the site. Member states also have the right to take measures to protect the Titanic wreck and consider it a cultural heritage worthy of respect. To date, approximately 41 countries have ratified the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, which came into effect on January 2, 2009.
Currently, the waters surrounding the Titanic wreck are being polluted by waste from ships passing through the area. In addition, many divers have placed plastic wreaths and memorial plaques there to commemorate this legendary ship. Expeditions to the Titanic wreck are also frequently organized to retrieve pieces of the ship for display.
Previously, thefts of artifacts from the Titanic wreck were a series of alarming occurrences.
The Titanic before it sank - Source: Internet.
The Titanic sank after striking an iceberg on the night of April 14th to 15th, 1912, while en route from Southampton, England to New York, USA, for the ship's inauguration. The sinking resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 people out of the 2,200 passengers on board.
According to VNA
