Titanic Bronze Statue Sparks Legal Dispute Over Sale of Sunken Ship's Treasures
RMS Titanic company seeks to sell artifacts from the wreck to fund conservation, while opposing NOAA's efforts to preserve the heritage
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
A small bronze statue that once adorned the grand staircase of the Titanic has become one of the most contentious items in a U.S. legal battle over the fate of artifacts salvaged from the famous shipwreck.
RMS Titanic Inc., which has held salvage rights to the wreck since 1994, is seeking to sell a collection that includes jewelry, tableware, and other artifacts, among more than 5,500 items in its possession.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) opposes the move, arguing that it violates the company’s obligations to preserve the collection and make it accessible to the public, a stance supported by historians and archaeologists.
In response, the company maintains that the items in question were recovered during a joint French expedition in 1987 and are not subject to current legal restrictions.
According to Courthouse News, the company justifies the sale by citing its need for funding conservation efforts amid financial pressures. A federal judge had temporarily halted the sale in August, before the company filed an appeal on October 9, requesting expedited review of the case.
The dispute revives a similar conflict that arose in 2016, as the commercial value of the ship’s artifacts has risen, following the sale of a gold pocket watch linked to the Titanic for approximately £1.78 million last year.
