| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to secure the protection of wrecks in territorial waters and the sites of such wrecks, from interference by unauthorised persons; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1973 c. 33 |
| Introduced by | Iain Sproat |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 10 July 1973 |
| Commencement | 10 July 1973 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 (c. 33) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated shipwrecks.
Section 1 of the act provides for wrecks to be designated because of historical, archaeological or artistic value. Section 2 provides for designation of dangerous sites. Wreck sites must have a known location in order to be designated. Designated wrecks are marked on admiralty charts and their physical location is sometimes marked by means of a buoy (sea mark). Information boards are often provided at nearby launch points on land.