Salvaging historic shipwrecks in South Africa
The mystique surrounding shipwrecks has intrigued man since the inception of sea travel itself. The wreck lies as a submerged time capsule, holding secrets of the past, patiently waiting to tell her stories, with rich rewards for archaeologists and salvors alike. Modern advances in underwater technology have supported a drastic increase in the discovery and retrieval of shipwrecks and their cargoes. Accompanying such advances are tensions which have emerged between interested parties in historic wrecks, the most notorious being between two broad interest groups; those who are attracted by the commercial value of such wrecks and those concerned to protect their historical and cultural value. This dissertation considers the viability of salvage law in the context of historic shipwrecks in South African waters.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
Institute of Marine and Environmental Law