The International Agreement for the Protection of the<i>Titanic</i>: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

In 2000 the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France finalized the text of an interstate agreement for the protection of the remains of RMS Titanic. The agreement has now been signed by the United States and United Kingdom, and it is expected that Canada and France will sign in due course. This article examines the background to the Agreement and the text of the Agreement itself and considers some questions relating to its implementation in the United States and the United Kingdom. It also looks at its relationship with other related international instruments. A number of problematic issues are identified and the prospects for the Agreement are assessed.