Report wreck material

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1. What you need to report

If you recover wreck material, for example parts of a ship or its cargo, you must report it to the Receiver of Wreck within 28 days.

If you do not report it within 28 days, you could be fined £2,500.

Reporting wreck material gives the legal owner the opportunity to have their property returned.

What counts as wreck material

Wreck material includes things found on the seashore or in tidal water that have come from a ship, aircraft or hovercraft (vessels). This could be parts of the vessel, its cargo or equipment.

There are 4 main categories:

  • flotsam - goods that have remained afloat after being lost from a ship that has sunk
  • jetsam - things that have been cast overboard from a ship that was in danger of sinking
  • derelict - property that has been abandoned at sea without hope of recovering it, which could be vessels or cargo
  • lagan - goods that have been buoyed (so they can be recovered) before being cast overboard from a ship that then sinks

Wreck material does not normally include:

  • boats that have come off their moorings
  • buoys, like marker or mooring buoys (unless part of fishing equipment)

If what you’ve found is not from a vessel, it might be officially defined as treasure. You must report treasure to the local coroner within 14 days of finding it.

Contact the Receiver of Wreck if you’re not sure whether something is wreck material.

Receiver of Wreck
row@mcga.gov.uk
Telephone: 0203 817 2575
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays)
Find out about call charges

Rewards

You may be entitled to a ‘salvage award’ recognising your efforts to save the item and return it to its owner.

Find out more in guidance on wreck and salvage law.

2. Reporting wreck material

You can report recovered wreck material online.

There is a different way to report treasure.

To report wreck material you’ll need:

  • the location you found it
  • the address where you’re storing it
  • any information you have about the vessel the material is from
  • a digital photograph of the recovered material - you’ll need to upload this in the service

Start now

Report wreck material by post

Follow these steps:

  1. Download the ‘Report of wreck and salvage’ form.

  2. Fill in the form and post it to The Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Receiver of Wreck
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

You can also get a copy of the form from your local coastguard.

Get help

Contact the Receiver of Wreck if you need help using the service.

Receiver of Wreck
row@mcga.gov.uk
Telephone: 0203 817 2575
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except public holidays)
Find out about call charges

3. After you've reported wreck material

You can create an account if you want to:

  • check the status of wreck material you have reported online
  • ask questions about your report
  • see if the Receiver of Wreck team have sent you any messages
  • add further information to your report

Start now

Sign in to your account if you already have one.