The United Kingdom and Indonesia have ratified the 'Maritime Heritage Accord 2026,' a landmark bilateral treaty designed to protect 17th-century Dutch East India Company (VOC) shipwrecks in Indonesian waters. The agreement establishes a joint framework for archaeological surveying, legal protection against commercial salvage, and the shared management of artifacts recovered from these historic vessels.
Focusing on the 'Spice Route' wrecks, the accord aims to curb the rampant looting that has plagued submerged heritage sites in the Java Sea. By combining UK maritime expertise with Indonesian territorial oversight, the treaty ensures that these 'submerged museums' are preserved for scientific research rather than exploited for private profit.