Article 5(2)
1. The preferred policy for the preservation of RMS Titanic and its artifacts is in situ preservation.
2. Activities shall avoid disturbance of human remains.
3. Activities utilising non-destructive techniques and non-intrusive surveys and sampling shall be preferred to those involving recovery or excavation aimed at RMS Titanic and/or its artifacts.
4. Activities shall have the minimum adverse impact on RMS Titanic and its artifacts.
5. Persons undertaking these activities shall ensure proper recording and dissemination to the public of historical, cultural and archaeological information.
6. Activities shall be the object of a project design that shall include—
(a)the objectives of the project;
(b)a general description of the methodology and techniques to be employed;
(c)a description of the anticipated funding;
(d)a provisional timetable for completion of the project;
(e)the composition, qualifications and responsibilities of the anticipated team;
(f)the proposal for or results of all preliminary work;
(g)if applicable, plans for post-field work;
(h)if applicable, a conservation and curation plan;
(i)a documentation programme;
(j)a safety policy;
(k)if applicable, arrangements for collaboration with museums and other institutions;
(l)report preparation, contents, and dissemination;
(m)if applicable, the anticipated disposition of archives, including artifacts; and
(n)if applicable, a programme for publication.
7. If unexpected discoveries are made or circumstances change, the project design shall be reviewed and amended. Amendments to the project design shall require a new authorisation to be issued.
8. Each project shall be carried out in accordance with its project design.
9. Projects shall be designed to ensure adequate funding in advance to complete all stages of the project including the curation, conservation and documentation of any recovered artifacts, and the preparation and dissemination of the report.
10. The project design shall include contingency plans that will ensure conservation of recovered artifacts and supporting documentation in the event of any interruption of anticipated funding.
11. The project design shall demonstrate an ability to fund the project through to completion.
12. Project funding shall not require the sale of artifacts or other material recovered or the use of any strategy that will cause artifacts and supporting documentation to be irretrievably dispersed.
13. Adequate time shall be assured in advance to complete all stages of the project, including the curation, conservation and documentation of any recovered artifacts, and the preparation and dissemination of the report.
14. The project design shall include contingency plans that will ensure conservation of artifacts and supporting documentation in the event of any interruption in the anticipated timetable.
15. The project design shall include the objectives, proposed methodology and techniques.
16. The methodology shall comply with the project objectives and with the general principles set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 above.
17. Projects shall only be undertaken under the guidance of and in the presence of qualified technical and/or professional experts with experience appropriate to the objectives. The project shall not commence until the identity, qualifications, experience and responsibilities of the team members have been notified to and approved by the Secretary of State or by the relevant national authority of another State Party to the Agreement.
18. All persons on the project team shall be—
(a)qualified and have demonstrated experience appropriate to their project roles; and
(b)fully briefed and understand the work required.
19. The project design shall include—
(a)an assessment that evaluates the vulnerability of RMS Titanic and artifacts to damage by the proposed activities; and
(b)a determination that the benefits of the project outweigh the potential risk of damage.
20. The assessment shall also include background studies and relevant bibliography of available historical and archaeological evidence, and environmental consequences of the proposed project for the long-term stability of RMS Titanic and artifacts.
21. Projects shall be thoroughly documented in accordance with professional archaeological standards current at the time the project is to be undertaken.
22. Documentation shall include, as a minimum, the systematic and complete recording of the provenance of artifacts moved or removed in the course of the project, field notes, plans, sections, photographs and recording in other media.
23. The project design shall include a conservation plan that provides for treatment of the artifacts in transit and in the long term.
24. Conservation shall be carried out in accordance with professional standards current at the time the project is to be undertaken.
25. All persons on the team shall work according to a safety policy prepared according to professional and legal requirements and set out in the project design.
26. Interim reports shall be made available according to a timetable set out in the project design, and provided to the Secretary of State and to the relevant authority of another State Party to the Agreement.
27. Reports shall include—
(a)an account of the objectives;
(b)an account of the methodology and techniques employed;
(c)an account of the results achieved; and
(d)recommendations concerning conservation of any artifacts removed during the course of the project.
28. The project collection, including any artifacts recovered during the course of the project and a copy of all supporting documentation, shall be kept together and intact in a manner that provides for public access, curation and its availability for educational, scientific, cultural and other public purposes.
29. Arrangements for curation of the project collection shall be agreed before any project commences, and shall be set out in the project design.
30. The project collection shall be curated according to professional standards current at the time the project is to be undertaken.
31. Projects shall provide for public education and popular presentation of the results.
32. A final synthesis shall be provided to relevant national authorities and made available to the public as soon as possible, having regard to the complexity of the project.