Thieves Who Steal Sunken Warships, Right Down to the Bolts

Post by mikeash » Sat, May 06, 2017, 8:17 PM UTC

mschuster91 wrote: post #69

mikeash wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't buy that claim. The amount of nuclear contamination in steel is really small. It matters when you're building sensitive instruments, but I don't think nuclear weapons care very much. After all, they contain at least several pounds of radioactive material by necessity. A tiny amount of extra background radiation from the steel casing won't affect things. Adding to my doubt is the article's mention of "pre-1942…

I believe that 1942 refers to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Pile-1 , the world's first artificial nuclear reactor. Back at the time, there was not very much requirement for nuclear safety/contamination prevention... so if you want steel definitely free from non-natural radiation you'll need 1942 or earlier steel.

Post by willvarfar » Sat, May 06, 2017, 8:41 PM UTC

sandworm101 wrote: post #68

intrasight wrote: post #67

I would assume that we have or could develop the technology to place audio and video recording equipment on any historically significant sites.

Not really. Even just putting a buoy in place has issues. It would turn a subsurface wreck into a new surface obstacle/hazard. Then you get into the tricky matter of detection and response. Sending out a tiny ship every time the buoy lost contact wouldn't be safe. You'd have to assume pirates each and every time. Local law enforcement/navies aren't going to be happy responding to possible pirates tampering with a buo…

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 06, 2017, 8:46 PM UTC

rogerwilco1 wrote: post #6

devoply wrote: post #3

I am personally with the salvagers. They are making good use of an economic resource for themselves and for others. They are also cleaning the ocean of old debris, not getting lost in some misplaced sense of sentimentality. If the home countries of these vessels want them so bad they should simply salvage them themselves. It's stupid that we have laws that protect stuff that sunk over a few decades ago. If you can't…

Most of the ships are final resting places for the crew that went down with them. You don't disturb them for personal economic gain. Just like you don't steal a 100 year old stone from a graveyard.

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 06, 2017, 8:46 PM UTC

rogerwilco1 wrote: post #6

devoply wrote: post #3

I am personally with the salvagers. They are making good use of an economic resource for themselves and for others. They are also cleaning the ocean of old debris, not getting lost in some misplaced sense of sentimentality. If the home countries of these vessels want them so bad they should simply salvage them themselves. It's stupid that we have laws that protect stuff that sunk over a few decades ago. If you can't…

Most of the ships are final resting places for the crew that went down with them. You don't disturb them for personal economic gain. Just like you don't steal a 100 year old stone from a graveyard.

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 06, 2017, 8:50 PM UTC

rogerwilco1 wrote: post #6

devoply wrote: post #3

I am personally with the salvagers. They are making good use of an economic resource for themselves and for others. They are also cleaning the ocean of old debris, not getting lost in some misplaced sense of sentimentality. If the home countries of these vessels want them so bad they should simply salvage them themselves. It's stupid that we have laws that protect stuff that sunk over a few decades ago. If you can't…

Most of the ships are final resting places for the crew that went down with them. You don't disturb them for personal economic gain. Just like you don't steal a 100 year old stone from a graveyard.