International waters fall under international law (International Admiralty laws to be more specific). Generally, if a wreck/item in international waters can not be traced to ownership, or a claim, or a conscious effort for tracking and raising can be shown ('Non-abandonment'), it is finders keepers.
Once a state (not US state, but sovereign state) or private owner (company or individual) has shown an interest, done some homework and investments..... it gets very cloudy quickly. Best is to go for salvage rights..... keeping a portion of the raised values.
More convoluted is when a foreign object is found in national waters.....and can be claimed as 'non-abandoned'..... There are some agencies in former colonizing states whos sole purpose is to create that conscious effort. This way when a privateer finds a 300 year old galleon, the originating state can claim ownership, 'non-abandonment' and it is theirs. Custom courtesy dictates a small finders fee, or a larger salvage fee.
Once a state (not US state, but sovereign state) or private owner (company or individual) has shown an interest, done some homework and investments..... it gets very cloudy quickly. Best is to go for salvage rights..... keeping a portion of the raised values.
More convoluted is when a foreign object is found in national waters.....and can be claimed as 'non-abandoned'..... There are some agencies in former colonizing states whos sole purpose is to create that conscious effort. This way when a privateer finds a 300 year old galleon, the originating state can claim ownership, 'non-abandonment' and it is theirs. Custom courtesy dictates a small finders fee, or a larger salvage fee.
