What happens to ships that sink?

Question

Are they ever recovered. What about all the money and valubles on board? Is it free for the taking from divers etc?

Answer 1

They sink to the bottom. Some recovery may be made by the Shipping Company, most likely it insured and free game to whoever want. Really things are much different at sea, especially in open/international waters.

Anyone not believe this, let me tie my rope to your boat and give you a tow. I say this not as an assh*le, but, better get real on this!

Answer 2

they become man made reefs in the ocean and in fresh water, depending on the circumstances... a nuisance.

Answer 3

Ships that sink recently are still property of their owners.  Old gallions that sank hundreds of years ago are largely there for the taking if you can find them.  However the Spanish have been increasingly aggressive as far as recovering artifacts that were theirs when they sank.  Also, you will have to pay taxes on what you recover unless the find is documented to have occured in international waters.

Answer 4

No, unless its a large ship in shallow waters that poses a hazard to other vessels, it is usually left where it is, the money from scrap would be nowhere near enough to salvage it!

Answer 5

Ironic...Spain wants to reclaim gold treasure that fortune hunters are finding. The same gold that was stolen by Spain from central American cultures.

Answer 6

actually, in fresh water, the owner retains claim to to boat and contents. Maritime law says that in the ocean, salvage rights go to the person or person who discovers and files on the wreck. Certain countries however claim rights to any shipwrecks located inside their "Territorial" waters, and you have to "negotiate" with them for a percentage of the value of the salvage.

Answer 7

There are salvage missions that take place if the goods are valuable enough, but generally the ships are not brought back up unless it can be easily done. Salvaged ships don't need to float on the water but at the surface for the body to be brought into shore and salvaged. Then it can be dry docked and patched up and cleaned...again if it is easy enough...and worth it.

Most salvage operations are only done on ships long abandoned without owner consent. Legally, the owners should be able to reaquire their goods for a fee if you have recovered them. That is, if they wish to do so.

Answer 8

they rust away

Answer 9

There are international salvage laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_salv...

Answer 10

they get wet all over