Scotland's historic wrecks

Which of Scotland's historic wrecks are protected?

There are currently 15 underwater historic wrecks in Scotland which have a statutory designation by laws administered by Historic Scotland. This is a small fraction of the many thousands of seabed sites known to exist.

Historic wrecks protected as scheduled monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

The seven remaining wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet scuttled in Scapa Flow, Orkney in 1919, are a powerful reminder of the role of the navy in the First World War, and the strategic importance of the natural harbour of Scapa Flow.

They are scheduled monuments. No licence from Historic Scotland is required to dive on these sites but divers must ‘take only photographs, and leave only bubbles’.  However, the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers is required for a wide range of works which might have an affect on these scheduled monuments.
In Scapa Flow, Historic Scotland has supported

• ScapaMap's baseline surveys of the Scheduled Wrecks in Scapa Flow
• the establishment of a Voluntary Underwater Conservation Zone for Scapa Flow
• the Code of Conduct practiced by the Orkney Dive Boat Owners Association (ODBOA).

As part of Historic Scotland’s marine strategy 2012-15, the Scapa Flow scheduled wrecks will be considered for transition to Historic MPA status along with any other sites in Scapa Flow that might merit inclusion within a Historic MPA.

Historic wrecks designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973

Site name	Location	Period	Date of designation
Kennemerland	Out Skerries, Shetland	17th century	1 June 1978
Wrangels Palais	Out Skerries, Shetland	17th century	10 January 1991
Duart Point Wreck	Sound of Mull, Argyll and Bute	17th century	15 May 1992
Dartmouth	Sound of Mull, Highland	17th century	25 June 1992
Burntisland Wreck	Firth of Forth, Fife	17th century	22 February 1999
Mingary Castle Wreck	Ardnamurchan, Highland	17th century	19 August 2000
Kinlochbervie Wreck	Kinlochbervie, Sutherland	16-17th century	29 January 2001
HMS Campania	Firth of Forth, Fife	Early 20th century	1 December 2001

As part of Historic Scotland’s marine strategy 2012-15, these 8 designated wrecks are currently being reviewed for transition to Historic MPA status under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 or de-designation altogether. When this process is complete, section 1 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 will be repealed in Scotland, although it will continue to be used elsewhere in the UK.’

Name:	Drumbeg
Location:	Sutherland
Period:	17th/early 18th century
Date of designation:	18th March 2013 (urgent designation to last for a period of 2 years)

A number of wartime shipwrecks off Scotland are designated as ‘protected places’ or ‘controlled sites’ under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. This legislation is administered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Find out about these sites here.