Announced Special Legal Protection for Orchney ShipWrak sites

Kevin Keen

Environmental correspondent of BBC Scotland

On 21 June 1919, coded messages were sent to ships who ordered scooting.

Photo 12/Getty Images This granular black and white photo images of a submerged ship funnel and masts with water islands in the background in the background. — On 21 June 1919, coded messages were sent to ships who ordered scooting.

Legal protection has been announced to preserve the remains of a warships of world war warships in the scapa flow to the scapa flow.

52 – The strong German high -cees fleet was deliberately drowned by its employees in 1919 – when Commander Admiral Ludwig von Reuters accidentally thought that peace talks had failed.

Some of the vessels have been rectified with many artifacts along with several artifacts, navigational equipment and even musical instruments, along with many artifacts.

The historic maritime protected area (MPA) designation declared by the Scottish government will now make a criminal offense to remove goods from sites.

The Orchney Islands Council, which has been emphasizing for the historic MPA status for many years, evaluated that the debris was weak and the risk of losing “characteristics of historical importance”.

Footage features some of the orkni ship -version sites.

The British warships are immersed in scapa flow – HMS Royal Oak and HMS Mohra – are classified as war graves and require special permission from the Ministry of Defense to see them.

But the German fleet, and other debris in the water around the orkney have become a popular diving site.

The goods were allowed to be removed for decades until their recovery was registered.

This meant that hundreds of items were added to private collections or became pieces of museums.

In 1919, more than 50 warships of the German high -cees fleet were molested by their crew in the scapa flow.

The Universal History Archive/Getty Image Artwork shows a series of steaming vessels of the German high -cees fleet with a passing aircraft and Biplen. — In 1919, more than 50 warships of the German high -cees fleet were molested by their crew in the scapa flow.

In 2001, Historic Scotland nominated seven debris from the German fleet as significant scheduled monuments at the national level, which means that divers can only see them on the basis of “look but not touch”.

The historical MPA position provides protection to that other ships and creates additional legal powers against anyone removing objects from within the zone.

Energy Secretary Gilian Martin said that the designation would protect some of the most important debris sites in our seas.

He said: “The designation of these sites recognizes their national value and will help ensure that the coming generations can be inspired by the underwater legacy of Scotland, and can continue to learn, and continue to learn.”

The fleet was being held in the shelter of Scapa flow, while the countries argued what to do with the ships

Holton Archive/Getty Images show a view on the scapa flow in 1919 that shows dozens of warships in the anchor. — The fleet was being held in the shelter of Scapa flow, while the countries argued what to do with the ships

In 1745, the Rani of Sweden debris from Shetland, which is drowned in a storm, is also being given a historic MPA status.

It is recognized as one of the best protected remains of a ship of Swedish East Indian Company and was the largest vessel among the company’s fleet when it was lost.

Both MPA will be applicable in November.

The declaration was welcomed by the leader of the Orkney Islands Heather Woodbridge.

He said: “The debris ships, including the German high -cees fleet, are an important heritage property and attract visitors from all over the world, who contribute to the economy of orker.”