The Law of the RMS Titanic with Ole Varmer: To Preserve or Exploit

On this episode, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Ole Varmer, the recently retired NOAA attorney who garnered the nickname and reputation as the government's "shipwreck guy" for specializing in the law governing the historic preservation and salvage of shipwrecks.  On this show, we explore the particular case of the RMS Titanic, a wreck with such popular interest that it has caught the eye of the private salvage companies that seek to preserve and exploit the ship and its artifacts.  For more than 30 years, Ole played a leading role in the multi-lateral negotiation of the international agreements governing the Titanic, the implementing guidelines, and the federal litigation that continues to this day.   We discuss the fascinating laws and treaties that govern ship salvage and preservation, the future of the Titanic, and who controls culturally significant shipwrecks.  A very cool show from the deep dark waters of the Atlantic!