Merchant Shipping Act 1894

Unclaimed Wreck U.K.

523 Right of Crown to unclaimed wreck. U.K.

Her Majesty and Her Royal successors are entitled to all unclaimed wreck found in any part of Her Majesty’s dominions, except in places where Her Majesty or any of Her Royal predecessors has granted to any other person the right to that wreck.

524 Notice of unclaimed wreck to be given to persons entitled. U.K.

(1) Where any admiral, vice-admiral, lord of the manor, heritable proprietor duly infeft, or other person is entitled for his own use to unclaimed wreck found on any place within the district of a receiver, he shall deliver to the receiver a statement containing the particulars of his title, and an address to which notices may be sent.

(2) When a statement has been so delivered and the title proved to the satisfaction of the receiver, the receiver shall, on taking possession of any wreck found at a place to which the statement refers, within forty-eight hours send to the address delivered a description of the wreck and of any marks by which it is distinguished.

525 Disposal of unclaimed wreck. U.K.

Where no owner establishes a claim to any wreck, found in the United Kingdom and in the possession of a receiver, within one year after it came into his possession, the wreck shall be dealt with as follows; (that is to say,)

(1) If the wreck is claimed by any admiral, vice-admiral, lord of a manor, heritable proprietor, or other person who has delivered such a statement to the receiver as herein-before provided, and has proved to the satisfaction of the receiver his title to receive unclaimed wreck found at the place where that wreck was found, the wreck after payment of all expenses, costs, fees, and salvage due in respect thereof, shall be delivered to him;

(2) If the wreck is not claimed by any admiral, vice-admiral, lord of a manor, heritable proprietor, or other person as aforesaid, the receiver shall sell the same and shall pay the proceeds of the sale (after deducting therefrom the expenses of the sale, and any other expenses incurred by him, and his fees, and paying thereout to the salvors such amount of salvage as the Board of Trade may in each case, or by any general rule, determine) for the benefit of the Crown, as follows; (that is to say,)

(a) If the wreck is claimed in right of Her Majesty’s duchy of Lancaster, to the receiver-general of that duchy or his deputies as part of the revenues of that duchy;

(b) If the wreck is claimed in right of the duchy of Cornwall, to the receiver-general of that duchy or his deputies as part of the revenues of that duchy; and

(c) If the wreck is not so claimed, the receiver shall pay the proceeds of sale . . . F1 after the decease of Her present Majesty to her heirs and successors.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1908 (c. 49)

526 Disputed title to unclaimed wreck. U.K.

(1) Why any dispute arises between any such admiral, vice-admiral, lord of a manor, heritable proprietor, or other person as aforesaid and the receiver respecting title to wreck found at any place, or, where more persons than one claim title to that wreck and a dispute arises between them as to that title, that dispute may be referred and determined in the same manner as if it were a dispute as to salvage to be determined summarily under this Part of this Act.

(2) If any party to the dispute is unwilling to have the same so referred and determined, or is dissatisfied with the decision on that determination, he may within three months after the expiration of a year from the time when the wreck has come into the receiver’s hands, or from the date of the decision, as the case may be, take proceedings in any court having jurisdiction in the matter for establishing his title.

527 Delivery of unclaimed wreck by receivers not to prejudice title. U.K.

Upon delivery of wreck or payment of the proceeds of sale of wreck by a receiver, in pursuance of the provisions of this Part of this Act, the receiver shall be discharged from all liability in respect thereof, but the delivery thereof shall not prejudice or affect any question which may be raised by third parties concerning the right or title to the wreck, or concerning the title to the soil of the place on which the wreck was found.

528 Power to Board of Trade to purchase rights to wreck. U.K.

(1) The Board of Trade may, with the consent of the Treasury, out of the revenue arising under this Part of this Act, purchase for and on behalf of Her Majesty any rights to wreck possessed by any person other than Her Majesty.

(2) For the purpose of a purchase under this section, the provisions of the Lands Clauses Acts relating to the purchase of lands by agreement shall be incorporated with this Part of this Act, and in the construction of those Acts for the purposes of this section this Part of this Act shall be deemed to be the special Act, and any such right to wreck as aforesaid shall be deemed to be an interest in land authorised to be taken by the special Act, and Her Majesty shall be deemed to be the promoter of the undertaking.

529 Admiral not to interfere with wreck. U.K.

No admiral, vice-admiral, or other person, under whatever denomination, exercising Admiralty jurisdiction, shall, as such, by himself or his agents, receive, take, or interfere with any wreck except as authorised by this Act.