Historic shipwrecks
Maritime news 2013
April 2013
'Lost' World War Two shipwreck now protected under Australian law | 25 April
MV Limerick
Federal Heritage Minister, Tony Burke, today declared the shipwreck site of the 'lost' MV Limerick as a protected historic shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. The shipwreck site of the Limerick is a tangible link to actions of Australian and New Zealand merchant seamen. The shipwreck is also a significant physical representation of Australia and New Zealand’s shared maritime military history and an important chapter in the ANZAC story.
March 2013
Shipwreck discovery at Byron Bay - warning not to disturb wreck | 12 March
Wreck at Sunrise Beach (North Beach)
Byron Bay
Photo: Stephen Chapman
The NSW delegate for administration of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 for NSW coastal waters, has appealed to the public to respect the fragile remains of a shipwreck off Byron Bay, which is believed to be a timber vessel which ran aground during huge gales in July 1889 and to respect the fragile nature of the historic shipwreck and not interfere with it while it is exposed.
The site is a protected historic shipwreck under both the Commonwealth and State law. It is an offence to damage the archaeological site and associated relics, or to remove anything from the site. Under the Historic Shipwrecks Act penalties for any damage or disturbance of the wreck, or the removal of relics include a fine up to $10 000 or imprisonment for a period of up to five years for each offence. Under the New South Wales Heritage Act 1977 a breach of this Act can incur maximum penalties of up to $1.1 million.