The archaeological director from the non-profit Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University-College Station has likened
salvors to grave robbers and believes historic shipwrecks should be given the same protections as American Indian burial sites.
The staff at Cape Canaveral National Seashore in Florida was once surprised when a
salvor asserted a claim to what he believed was a Spanish galleon lying within the seashore.
Possession, the court held, requires an actual taking with the "intent to reduce it to possession." The court stated that constructive possession would have been found had Brazelton placed his boat over the wreck with the intent and ability to raise the cargo, as this would give rival
salvors notice of possession and intent to salvage.
Pure salvage grants an award to
salvors who have independently
However, Alaska's sprawling, remote coastline and fierce weather create a challenging landscape for
salvors doing their best to protect the environment.
Holyhead Coastguard said last night they will have "no further dealings" with the recovery as the incident has been handed over to the insurers and
salvors.
It is not clear how value is assessed under this system and whether
salvors have a free hand in deciding how to make up their points, but such a requirement raises obvious difficulties for
salvors in relation to any potential sale or realisation of the finds.
As long as the captain stays aboard,
salvors cannot claim the ship or cargo.
The
salvors have been asked to remove the live ammunition be removed in watered condition so that it can be diffused subsequently.
The ship has split in two, making it almost impossible for the
salvors to carry out other alternative dumping solutions, the DEA said.
As the main deck broke the water's surface,
salvors began pumping the barge to lessen the load on the hydraulic jacks.
Earlier, Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo was quoted in reports as saying the favourable weather had made it possible for
salvors to complete the salvage operations on time.