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Plan to sell Titanic artifacts faces US opposition
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- RMS Titanic Inc., which holds exclusive salvage rights to the Titanic wreck, plans to auction over 100 artifacts for the first time, including personal items and decor, sparking opposition from the U.S. government.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) argues the auction violates legal obligations to preserve the artifacts as a single collection and contends RMS Titanic lacks court approval for the sale.
- Since 1987, thousands of Titanic artifacts have been salvaged and displayed by RMS Titanic Inc., but past attempts to sell items have faced strong legal and public opposition due to preservation concerns.
- There is an international dispute over artifact ownership, with some items claimed in France and others in the U.S., complicating jurisdiction and legal conditions regarding their sale and display.
- Critics, including ocean explorers and legal experts, emphasize that Titanic artifacts should be preserved and publicly displayed rather than sold to private collectors, to honor the historical and cultural significance of the wreck.
