Under the new UNESCO Convention, there will be significant new requirements
on all activities directed at UCH. Some of these relate to environmental and
safety issues as well as archaeological and scientific issues.
While the US and other major maritime powers will likely not sign the
Convention anytime soon, there is a lot of talk about using the Annex Rules
as new standards. Firms working in other countries, especially G77
countries, will likely get the first taste of application of these rules
within the next year or so.
The Association of Dive Contractors holds their large international
technology convention Feb 27 through March 2 in New Orleans this year. For
the third year, we will have a full day devoted to shipwreck exploration.
This includes presentations relating to the political, legal,
archaeological, technical and safety issues relating to underwater
exploration activities. We will also be holding a special panel and a
seminar on the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural
Heritage.
In addition to these presentations, the world's most significant
technological advances in everything from ROV's to dive equipment to GIS
will be on display there. The archaeologists that showed up there last year
were amazed at the available technology, which rarely makes it to the
archaeological conferences.
Anyone interested in attending can contact me, and I will make sure you get
information.
Regards,
Greg Stemm
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