The use of archeological diving, survey and literature-based techniques to evaluate potential protected status for shipwrecks

Unlike military aircraft, shipwrecks do not automatically gain protected status under the 1986 Protection of Military Remains Act. Irrespective of whether or not there was loss of life or whether the wrecking occurred during peacetime or in combat the determination of protected status for shipwrecks, commonly referred to as designated war graves, usually depends on a judicial review process. Where there is no good historical evidence to support the case for protection the determination of status may then be based on information obtained from present-day surveys. This technical note gives an overview of how archaeological survey methodologies can be employed in attempting to provide evidence to support, or otherwise, a claim for protected status. This account is based on the example of the SS Storaa.