The Advisory Committee for Historic Wreck Sites

ACHWS Report 2007 © DCMS The Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS) was set up to advise Government on the suitability of wreck sites to be designated for protection on the grounds of historical, archaeological, or artistic interest in accordance with the terms of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. ACHWS also advises on the issue of licences for the examination and excavation of designated sites by named individuals and recommends the conditions to be attached to such licences.  In addition, it receives reports, from licensees and the current contractor for archaeological support for the Protection of Wrecks Act, on progress made at individual sites, and considers and gives advice on other general underwater archaeology issues which may affect historic wrecks within UK waters.

ACHWS membership is drawn from across a wide range of interests involved in underwater archaeology: maritime history; archaeology; recreational diving; museums (including naval); conservation; marine law; inshore oceanography; the Police and the Receiver of Wreck. To reflect the UK-wide remit of ACHWS, meetings are attended by officials from Historic Scotland, Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, and the Environment and Heritage Service (Department of the Environment Northern Ireland), to advise on wrecks located in the waters of the Devolved Administrations; representatives from English Heritage (EH) also attend with Observer status.

Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provided the Secretariat for the ACHWS from January until July 2002.  From that time English Heritage Commissions Secretariat took over administration of the ACHWS pending implementation of the Directions and Memorandum of Understanding transferring responsibilities between Government and English Heritage subsequent to the passing of the National Heritage Act 2002.

The ACHWS meets three times a year, normally in March, July and November. The agenda for these meetings is largely taken up with licence applications and reports of investigations of Designated Wreck Sites. Archaeological contractor reports on non-designated sites are also presented to the ACHWS. Most site designations and licence issues are decided at the November meeting, which also considers site reports compiled by the contractor during the previous diving season. In addition, sub-committees are occasionally formed to discuss specific issues, reporting back to the full ACHWS. 

The ACHWS does not have a budget of its own.  Instead, expenditure relating to the implementation of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 came from the DCMS programme budget for the built environment, and from March 2003 this budget was transferred to English Heritage to disburse. The bulk of the expenditure is on the contract for archaeological services in support of the Protection of Wrecks Act, with the remainder going towards maintaining marker buoys over Designated Wreck Sites and other ad hoc expenses. Members of the ACHWS are unpaid, but are entitled to out of pocket expenses to attend meetings. In addition, English Heritage, Cadw, Historic Scotland and Environment and Heritage Service (Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland) provide for expenditure on specific underwater archaeology issues in their countries.