US challenges planned expedition to retrieve Titanic’s radio

U.S. government will try to stop a company’s planned salv mission to retrieve Titanic’s wireless telegraph machine, arguing expedition would break federal law and a pact with Britain to leave iconic shipwreck undisturbed.

U.S. attorneys filed a legal challenge before a federal judge in rfolk, Virginia, late Monday. expedition is expected to occur by end of August.

Atlanta-based salv firm RMS Titanic Inc., plans to recover rio equipment from a deck house near ship’s grand staircase. operation could require a submersible to cut into rapidly deteriorating roof if vehicle is unable to slip through a skylight.

U.S. attorneys argue company can’t do that. y say federal law requires firm to get authorization from Secretary of Commerce before conducting research or salv expeditions “that would physically alter or disturb wreck.”

agreement with United Kingdom, y d, regulates entry into hull to prevent disturbance of “or artifacts and any human remains.”

international agreement calls for Titanic “to be recognized as ‘a memorial to those men, women and children who perished and whose remains should be given appropriate respect,’” government’s filing states.

Titanic was traveling from England to New York when it struck an iceberg and sank in 1912, killing all but about 700 of 2,208 passengers and crew. About 1,500 people died when ship sank about 400 miles (645 kilometers) off Newfoundland, Cana.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric ministration represents public’s interest in rth Atlantic wreck site. federal ncy is w seeking to be an actual party in case.

AA filed its arguments before same federal judge who ruled last month that salv firm could dive nearly 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) to recover Marconi wireless telegraph machine. rio’s distress calls to or ships are credited with saving lives of hundreds of people who escaped on lifeboats.

In her May ruling, U. S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith agreed with salv firm that telegraph is historically important and could soon disappear within rapidly decaying wreck. company plans to exhibit gear while telling stories of its heroic operators.

AA’s legal challenge escalates a debate that’s been simmering for a few years over who controls salv missions to world’s most famous shipwreck.

federal ncy argues that federal laws and international agreements should apply to it. salv firm disagrees, arguing that hundreds of years of maritime law firmly puts wreck into hands of miralty court in rfolk.

“AA seeks to jettison law of sea, developed over centuries,” firm argued in legal documents filed earlier this year.