Scuba Geek

Brits Assured WW II-era Torpedo ‘Chariots’ Will Not Be Salvaged June 23, 2006

Posted by Andy Carroll in : WreckDiving , trackback

Two World War II British Chariots have been found in waters off Phuket, and there has been a plan by a salvage company, East Marine SBS Co, to raise them. The British Embassy heard about this and concerns were raised about the operation. Subsequently a letter has now been delivered to the Governor, Udomsak Uswarangkura, requesting that they remain on the sea floor. From a report in Underwater Times and via Divester;

The letter read, in part, “Both in UK and International law, wrecked military aircraft and vessels remain the property of the state (in this case of the British Crown), regardless of location or condition. Ownership is not lost with the passage of time.

“Moreover, the provisions of the International Convention on Salvage 1989 do not apply to warships; consequently, in international waters and the territorial waters of other states, the wrecks of British military aircraft and warships cannot lawfully be the subject of salvage.

“[The British government’s] permission is needed to recover them and this we are not prepared to grant. We consider the Chariots to be heritage assets and as such they should remain and be studied in situ.”

The Governor said after the meeting, “I told East Marine SBS that if they received approval from the British Admiralty, I would allow the salvage project. But today I received a letter [from the British government] stating that it regards them as assets of Britain and pointing out that it is British military tradition to leave in place any vessels lost during war.

“They will not be salvaged. Instead, we can mark them as a place for divers to visit.”

It appears that the salvage company’s managing director, will not take no for an answer though and is determined to bring them up;

“It’s just a minor hiccup as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I’m a Kiwi and an ex-Special Forces member. I never give up. Never. So long as you don’t cap me with a 9mm in the head.

“It’s going to happen. I’m a hunter. It may take a year. It may take 10 years, but I’ll get them up.”

If they are in a place where they can readily be seen then that seems OK, but divers would hardly travel very far to dive a couple of ‘chariots’ if it wasn’t part of a longer dive. Then again, if they were brought up and restored, then everyone can enjoy them. The problem with this is if they end up in someone’s garage or warehouse and never see the light of day. What do you think?