R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986
PL 99-513 (S.2048), enacted 10/21/1986

100 STAT. 2082 
PUBLIC LAW 99-513—OCT. 21, 1986 
Public Law 99-513 
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99th Congress 
An Act 
Oct 21 1986 
To encourage international efforts to designate the shipwreck of the R.M.S. Titanic as 
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an international maritime memorial and to provide for reasonable research, explo-
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ration, and, if appropriate, salvage activities with respect to the shipwreck. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
R.M.S. Titanic 
United States of America in Congress assembled. 
Maritime 
Memorial Act of 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
1986 
16 use 450rr 
This Act may be cited as the "R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial 
note. 
Act of 1986". 
16USC450rr. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) the R.M.S. Titanic, the ocean liner which sank on her 
maiden voyage after striking an iceberg on April 14, 1912, 
should be designated as an international maritime memorial to 
the men, women, and children who perished aboard her; 
(2) the recent discovery of the R.M.S. Titanic, lying more than 
twelve thousand feet beneath the ocean surface, demonstrates 
the practical applications of ocean science and engineering; 
(3) the R.M.S. Titanic, well preserved in the cold, oxygen-poor 
waters of the deep North Atlantic Ocean, is of major national 
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and international cultural and historical significance, and 
merits appropriate international protection; and 
(4) the R.M.S. Titanic represents a special opportunity for 
deep ocean scientific research and exploration. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The Congress declares that the purposes of this Act 
are— 
(1) to encourage international efforts to designate the R.M.S. 
Titanic as an international maritime memorial to those who 
lost their lives aboard her in 1912; 
(2) to direct the United States to enter into negotiations with 
other interested nations to establish an international agree-
ment which will provide for the designation of the R.M.S. 
Titanic as an international maritime memorial, and protect the 
scientific, cultural, and historical significance of the R.M.S. 
Titanic; 
(3) to encourage, in those negotiations or in other fora, the 
development and implementation of international guidelines for 
conducting research on, exploration of, and if appropriate, sal-
vage of the R.M.S. Titanic; and 
(4) to express the sense of the United States Congress that, 
pending such international agreement or guidelines, no person 
should physically alter, disturb, or salvage the R.M.S. Titanic in 
any research or exploratory activities which are conducted. 
16 u s e 450rr-l. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act, the term— 
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PUBLIC LAW 99-513—OCT. 21, 1986 
100 STAT. 2083 
(a) "Administrator" means the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); 
(b) "person" means any individual (whether or not a citizen or 
national of the United States), any corporation, partnership, 
association, or other entity (whether or not organized or exist-
ing under the laws of any State), and any Federal, State, local, 
or foreign government or any entity of any such government; 
(c) "R.M.S. Titanic" means the shipwrecked vessel R.M.S. 
Titanic, her cargo or other contents, including those items 
which are scattered on the ocean floor in her vicinity; and 
(d) "Secretary" means the Secretary of State. 
SEC. 4. COMMENDATION. 
The Congress of the United States highly commends the members 
of the joint international expedition which discovered the R.M.S. 
Titanic. 
SEC. 5. INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES. 
(a) The Administrator is directed to enter into consultations with 
the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and other interested nations 
to develop international guidelines for research on, exploration of, 
and if appropriate, salvage of the R.M.S. Titanic, which— 
(1) are consistent with its national and international sci-
entific, cultural, and historical significance and the purposes of 
this Act; and 
(2) promote the safety of individuals involved in such 
operations. 
(b) In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult 
with the Secretary and shall promote full participation by other 
interested Federal agencies, academic and research institutions, and 
members of the public. 
SEC. 6. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. 
(a) The Secretary is directed to enter into negotiations with the 
United Kingdom, France, Canada, and other interested nations to 
develop an international agreement which provides for— 
(1) the designation of the R.M.S. Titanic as an international 
maritime memorial; and 
(2) research on, exploration of, and if appropriate, salvage of 
the R.M.S. Titanic consistent with the international guidelines 
developed pursuant to section 5 and the purposes of this Act. 
(b) In carrying out the requirements of subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall consult with the Administrator, who shall provide 
research and technical assistance to the Secretary. 
(c) The Secretary and the Administrator shall report semiannu-
ally to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives and 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Senate on the 
progress of the negotiations and consultations. 
(d) Upon adoption of an international agreement as described in 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide notification of the agree-
ment and recommendations for legislation to implement the agree-
ment to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives and 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Senate. 
16 u s e 450rr-2. 
16 u s e 450rr-3. 
United 
Kingdom. 
France. 
Canada. 
16 u s e 450rr-4. 
United 
Kingdom. 
France. 
Canada. 
Reports. 
100 STAT. 2084 
PUBLIC LAW 99-513—OCT. 21, 1986 
16 u s e 450rr-5. 
SEC. 7. SENSE 
OF 
CONGRESS 
REGARDING 
CONDUCT 
OF 
FUTURE 
ACTIVITIES. 
It is the sense of Congress that research and limited exploration 
activities concerning the R.M.S. Titanic should continue for the 
purpose of enhancing public knowledge of its scientific, cultural, and 
historical significance: Provided, That, pending adoption of the 
international agreement described in section 6(a) or implementation 
of the international guidelines described in section 5, no person 
should conduct any such research or exploration activity which 
would physically alter, disturb, or salvage the R.M.S. Titanic. 
16 u s e 450rr-6. 
SEC. 8. DISCLAIMER OF EXTRATERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY. 
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By enactment of this Act, the United States does not assert 
sovereignty, or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or 
the ownership of, any marine areas or the R.M.S. Titanic. 
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Approved October 21, 1986. 
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2048 (H.R. 3272): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 99-393 accompanying H.R. 3272 (eomm. on Merchant 
Marine and Fisheries). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
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Vol. 131 (1985): Dec. 2, H.R. 3272 considered and passed House. 
Vol. 132 (1986): Sept. 24, S. 2048 considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 6, considered and passed House.