French Shipwreck Recovery, Interference Suit Fails on Appeal

Global Marine Exploration Inc. can’t pursue a salvage claim against the Republic of France over a 16th century French shipwreck off the coast of Florida because federal law prohibits such an award without France’s express permission, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Global Marine’s in personam salvage claim is barred under the Sunken Military Craft Act since the ship, “la Trinité,” was “owned or operated by a government or military noncommercial service” when it sank in 1565, Judge William H. Pryor Jr. said in an opinion for the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, affirming summary judgment in ...