The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is marking the Centenary of the First World War with events focussing on remembrance and protection of shipwrecks
UNESCO highlights that ‘underwater heritage’ is “seriously endangered” by “pillaging, treasure hunting, and the recovering of scrap metal”.
As such, important wrecks such as Lusitania, which was sunk in 1915 by Germany amongst international outcry, “have been subject to considerable destruction well after sinking”.
While “not much has been known about such submerged heritage, as it was not greatly researched historically”, UNESCO has stated that it will “call on political leaders, the world audience and the scientific community to pay increased attention to submerged heritage and its message for peace”.
First World War shipwrecks fall under the jurisdiction of the 2001 UN Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
Conference
A “scientific conference and commemorative event” on underwater heritage from the First World War will be held from the 26th-28th June 2014, organised by UNESCO and the Government of Flanders.
The conference will take place in the Belgian city of Bruges.
Ships around the world are being urged to mark the Centenary of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination on 28th June, the event which triggered the First World War.
Vessels at sea should fly flags or ensigns at half-mast as part of a call for peace and reconciliation, says UNESCO, the United Nations educational, cultural and scientific agency.
Ships in harbour are encouraged to sound a signal of remembrance to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war. The starting time is 17.00 UTC/18.00 British Summer Time/19.00 Central European Time.
The Director-General of UNESCO has invited Member States to support the commemorations.
To find out more about the conference, visit the UNESCO website here.