The Protection of Wrecks (Designation) (England) Order 2018

Statutory Instruments

2018 No. 96

Protection Of Wrecks, England

The Protection of Wrecks (Designation) (England) Order 2018

Made

22nd January 2018

Laid before Parliament

29th January 2018

Coming into force

23rd February 2018

The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1(1) and (2) and 3(2) of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973(1) (“the Act”).

The Secretary of State is satisfied, in relation to the site identified at article 2(1) of this Order, as to the matters set out in section 1(1) of the Act.

In accordance with section 1(4) of the Act, the Secretary of State has consulted such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate having regard to the purposes of this Order.

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Protection of Wrecks (Designation) (England) Order 2018 and comes into force on 23rd February 2018.

Identification of site and designation of restricted area

2.—(1) This Order is made in respect of the site where a vessel lies, or is supposed to lie, wrecked on or in the sea bed at Latitude 51.27458300, Longitude 1.57606700(2).

(2) The area within 225 metres of the site identified in paragraph (1), excluding any part of that area above the high water mark of ordinary spring tides, is designated as a restricted area.

Revocation

3.  The Protection of Wrecks (Designation) (England) Order 2007(3) is revoked.

Michael Ellis

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Arts, Heritage and Tourism

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

22nd January 2018

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order designates a restricted area for the purposes of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 within 225 metres of the wreck site of the vessel “Rooswijk” lying on the Goodwin Sands, off Deal, Kent.

The Secretary of State is satisfied that the site ought to be protected from unauthorised interference on account of the historical and archaeological importance of the vessel and any objects contained or formerly contained in it which may be lying on the sea bed in or near the wreck.

Under section 1(3) of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, it is a criminal offence for a person to engage in certain activities in a restricted area, except under the authority of a licence issued by the Secretary of State.

The area around the wreck site of the Rosswijk was previously designated as a restricted area under the Protection of Wrecks (Designation) (England) Order 2007. This Order adjusts the position of the wreck site north-eastwards and enlarges the radius of the restricted area from 150 to 225 metres following further investigations of the site. This Order also revokes the 2007 Order.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact is foreseen on the private, voluntary or public sectors.

(1)

1973 c.33.

(2)

The position of the site is defined by co-ordinates of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84), as revised in 2004.

(3)

S.I. 2007/61.