This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State, exercises powers under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 to formally designate specific sunken military vessels and define surrounding maritime areas as 'controlled sites,' thereby applying legal protection against disturbance to these remains; it names numerous additional vessels for designation, extends the protected radii for certain existing sites, and revokes the previous designation Order from 2019.
Arguments For
Ensures legal protection for the physical remnants of specified military vessels and associated seabeds, honouring those lost in service.
Updates existing designations by incorporating newly identified or deemed significant wrecks and sites under the 1986 Act.
Increases the protected zone radius around specific wrecks (HMS Royal Oak and HMS Vanguard) to provide greater physical safeguarding against disturbance.
Revokes the previous 2019 Order, consolidating the current protected status into a single, up-to-date legislative instrument.
Arguments Against
The designation imposes restrictions on maritime activities, potentially impacting commercial diving, salvage, or fishing operations in the specified geographic coordinates.
The document outlines extensive lists of wrecks, requiring users (mariners, resource managers) to stay current with protected areas, creating administrative load.
While the Order concludes no significant impact is foreseen, new, extensive protected zones (like the 750m zone for HMS Exmouth) might unexpectedly affect established seabed infrastructure or research activities.
The automatic application of the Act to these sites means activities such as recovery or disturbance are prohibited without specific authorization, potentially conflicting with historical preservation versus access debates.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 286
DEFENCE
The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2026
Made - - - - 9th March 2026
Coming into force - - 30th March 2026
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of powers conferred by section 1(2) of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986( 1 ).
The vessels specified in Schedule 1 appear to the Secretary of State to fall within section 1(2)(a) and (3) of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 ('the Act').
The areas specified in Schedule 2 appear to the Secretary of State to fall within section 1(2)(b) and (4) of the Act.
This establishes the context for the statutory instrument, identifying it as 2026 No. 286 concerning Defence matters, officially titled The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2026.
The Order was made on March 9th, 2026, and came into force on March 30th, 2026, utilizing powers granted under Section 1(2) of the 1986 Act.
The Secretary of State determined that the specific vessels in Schedule 1 meet the criteria for protection under Section 1(2)(a) and (3) of the Act, while the geographic areas listed in Schedule 2 qualify as controlled sites under Section 1(2)(b) and (4).
Citation, commencement and interpretation
- -(1) This Order may be cited as the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2026 and comes into force on 30th March 2026.
- (2) In this Order any reference to a point is a reference to a point given by co-ordinates based on the World Geodetic System 1984.
Article 1 governs the naming and timing of the legislation.
It states that the official citation is the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2026, and it became effective on March 30th, 2026.
Furthermore, the Order specifies that any geographical reference, such as coordinates defining a protected area boundary, must be understood using the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) standard.
Designated vessels
- Each of the vessels specified in Schedule 1 to this Order is designated as a vessel to which the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 applies.
Article 2 enacts the designation of specific vessels.
Any vessel listed within Schedule 1 is now legally protected under the provisions of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.
Designated controlled sites
- Each of the areas specified in Schedule 2 to this Order is designated as a controlled site.
Article 3 officially designates maritime locations as 'controlled sites'.
Each area detailed in Schedule 2 is now subject to the protective measures established for controlled sites under the 1986 Act.
Revocation
- The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2019 ('previous designation Order')( 2 ) is revoked.
Article 4 formally cancels the previous legislation governing these designations.
The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2019 is legally revoked by this new Order.
( 1 ) 1986 c. 35.
( 2 ) S.I. 2019/1191.
These lines provide legislative references, indicating that the primary authority is the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Chapter 35) and citing the specific Statutory Instrument number for the previous designation Order (S.I. 2019/1191).
| Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
9th March 2026 Coaker Minister of State Ministry of Defence
This status box indicates that the text provided is the original formulation of the legislation as enacted, without any subsequent amendments.
It concludes with the signing authority: Minister of State Coaker from the Ministry of Defence, dated March 9th, 2026.
S C H E D U L E S
Schedule 1
Designated vessels
| | Name of vessel | Date of sinking (on or about) | |------|--------------------|---------------------------------| | (a) | Atlantic Conveyor | 25th May 1982 | | (b) | HMS Aboukir | 22nd September 1914 | | (c) | HMS Acheron | 17th December 1940 | | (d) | HMS Albacore | 9th March 1917 | | (e) | HMS Amphion | 6th August 1914 | | (f) | HMHS Anglia | 17th November 1915 | | (g) | HMS Ardent | 31st May 1916 | | (h) | SS Armenian | 28th June 1915 | | (i) | HMT Beech | 22nd June 1941 | | (j) | HMS Black Prince | 31st May 1916 | | (k) | HMS Blackwood | 15th June 1944 | | (l) | HMS Boadicea | 13th June 1944 | | (m) | HMS Bullen | 6th December 1944 | | (n) | RFA Cairndale | 30th May 1941 | | (o) | HMS Calgardian | 1st March 1918 | | (p) | Chasseur 07 | 11th October 1940 | | (q) | Chasseur 07 | 11th October 1940 | | (r) | HMS Coquette | 7th March 1916 | | (s) | RFA Creosol | 7th February 1918 | | (t) | HMS Cressy | 22nd September 1914 | | (u) | HMS Curacao | 2nd October 1942 | | (v) | HMS C29 | 29th August 1915 | | (w) | HMS Defence | 31st May 1916 | | (x) | HMS Delight | 29th July 1940 | | (y) | RFA Dinsdale | 31st May 1942 | | (z) | HMS Duke of Albany | 26th August 1916 | | (aa) | HMS D5 | 3rd November 1914 |
Article 2
| | Name of vessel | Date of sinking (on or about) | |------|-------------------|---------------------------------|
Schedule 1 lists the vessels designated under Article 2 of the Order, which are now protected under the 1986 Act.
This partial list details vessels by name and approximate date of sinking, ranging chronologically from August 1914 (HMS Amphion) up to May 1982 (Atlantic Conveyor).
The continuation of Article 2's table proceeds with subsequent vessel listings, including British, Allied, and enemy vessels (such as U-boats, indicated later in the full schedule), with sinking dates spanning the World Wars and the Falklands War.
| (ab) | Emile Deschamps | 4th June 1940 | | (ac) | HMS Exmoor | 25th February 1941 | | (ad) | HMS E6 | 26th December 1915 | | (ae) | HMS E18 | 26th May 1916 | | (af) | HMS E47 | 20th August 1917 | | (ag) | HMS E49 | 12th March 1917 | | (ah) | HMS E50 | 31st January 1918 | | (ai) | HMS Falmouth | 20th August 1916 | | (aj) | HMS Fisgard II | 17th September 1914 | | (ak) | HMS Fitzroy | 27th May 1942 | | (al) | HMS Fortuna | 3rd April 1941 | | (am) | HMS Fortune | 31st May 1916 | | (an) | HMS Gloucester | 22nd May 1941 | | (ao) | HMS Ghurka | 8th February 1917 | | (ap) | RFA Gray Ranger | 22nd September 1942 | | (aq) | HMS G8 | 14th January 1918 | | (ar) | HMS Hawke | 15th October 1914 | | (as) | HMS Hogue | 22nd September 1914 | | (at) | HMS Hood | 24th May 1941 | | (au) | RFA Hungerford | 16th April 1918 | | (av) | HMS Indefatigable | 31st May 1916 | | (aw) | RFA Industry | 18th October 1918 | | (ax) | HMS Invincible | 31st May 1916 | | (ay) | HMYIolaire | 1st January 1919 | | (az) | RFA Isleford | 25th January 1942 | | (ba) | HMS Jason | 3rd April 1917 | | (bb) | HMS Kale | 27th March 1918 | | (bc) | HMS K4 | 31st January 1918 | | (bd) | HMS K17 | 31st January 1918 | | (be) | HMT Kurd | 10th July 1945 | | (bf) | HMS Lady Patricia | 20th May 1917 | | (bg) | HMS Laurentic | 23rd January 1917 | | (bh) | HMS Loyalty | 22nd August 1944 | | (bi) | HMS Lynx | 9th August 1915 |
This segment continues the table enumeration from (ab) to (bi), detailing further military and auxiliary vessels lost during both World Wars.
Notable additions include HMS Hood (May 1941) and several U-boat engagements (though the U-boats themselves are listed later).
These entries confirm the wide historical scope of the protection order, covering losses in major naval engagements through to losses in convoy operations during the Second World War.
| | Name of vessel | Date of sinking (on or about) | |------|---------------------|---------------------------------| | (bj) | HMS L24 | 10th January 1924 | | (bk) | HMS M1 | 12th November 1925 | | (bl) | HMS M2 | 26th January 1932 | | (bm) | SS Mendi | 21st February 1917 | | (bn) | ML-247 | 29th September 1918 | | (bo) | HMS Moldavia | 23rd May 1918 | | (bp) | RFA Montenol | 1st May 1942 | | (bq) | HMS Mourne | 15th June 1944 | | (br) | HMS Nestor | 31st May 1916 | | (bs) | HMS Nomad | 31st May 1916 | | (bt) | HMS Nottingham | 19th August 1916 | | (bu) | HMS Pathfinder | 5th September 1914 | | (bv) | HMS Patia | 27th April 1941 | | (bw) | HMS Penylan | 3rd December 1942 | | (bx) | HMS Pheasant | 1st March 1917 | | (by) | HMS Prince of Wales | 10th December 1941 | | (bz) | HMS Queen Mary | 31st May 1916 | | (ca) | HMS Recruit | 1st May 1915 | | (cb) | HMS Repulse | 10th December 1941 | | (cc) | HMS Shark | 31st May 1916 | | (cd) | HMS Sheffield | 9th May 1982 | | (ce) | RFA Salviking | 14th February 1944 | | (cf) | RFA Sir Galahad | 25th June 1982 | | (cg) | RFA Slavol | 26th March 1942 | | (ch) | HMS Sparrowhawk | 31st May 1916 | | (ci) | SS Storaa | 3rd November 1943 | | (cj) | HMS Swordfish | 7th November 1940 | | (ck) | USCG Tampa | 26th September 1918 | | (cl) | TB-10 | 10th June 1915 | | (cm) | TB-11 | 7th March 1916 | | (cn) | HMS Tipperary | 31st May 1916 | | (co) | HMS Turbulent | 31st May 1916 | | (cp) | HMT Ullswater | 19th November 1942 | | (cq) | HMS Umpire | 19th July 1941 |
This segment continues the comprehensive list of designated vessels, running from (bj) to (cq).
It includes losses from various periods, such as the mid-1920s (HMS L24, M1, M2) and several major losses during World War II, including HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse (1941).
This section also includes non-Royal Navy vessels like USCG Tampa and auxiliaries like RFA Sir Galahad, underscoring the broad scope of historical maritime loss covered by the designation.
| | Name of vessel | Date of sinking (on or about) | |------|------------------|---------------------------------| | (cr) | HMS Vandal | 24th February 1943 | | (cs) | HMS Vervain | 20th February 1945 | | (ct) | HMS Viknor | 13th January 1915 | | (cu) | HMS Vortigern | 15th March 1942 | | (cv) | HMS Warrior | 31st May 1916 | | (cw) | HMS Warwick | 20th February 1944 | | (cx) | the U-12 | 5th October 1939 | | (cy) | the U-87 | 25th December 1917 | | (cz) | the U-714 | 14th March 1945 | | (da) | the U-1018 | 27th February 1945 | | (db) | the U-1063 | 15th April 1945 | | (dc) | the UB-31 | 2nd May 1918 | | (dd) | the UB-41 | 5th October 1917 | | (de) | the UB-65 | 14th July 1918 | | (df) | the UB-75 | 10th December 1917 | | (dg) | the UB-78 | 19th April 1918 | | (dh) | the UB-107 | 28th July 1918 | | (di) | the UB-109 | 29th August 1918 |
This final part of Schedule 1 lists designations running from (cr) to (di).
Significantly, this section includes several German U-boats (U-12, U-87, U-714, U-1018, U-1063) and UB-class submarines (UB-31 through UB-109), indicating that the protection order extends to the wrecks of enemy vessels in specific circumstances.
The sinking dates for these vessels range widely, concluding with German submarine losses as late as April 1945, solidifying the inclusion of important military casualties from the entire history of the World Wars.
Schedule 2
Designated controlled sites
| | Remains vessels concerned | Area designated as controlled site | Latitude of relevant point | Longitude of relevant point | |-----|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------| | (a) | HMS Affray | Area situated within 400 metres from the relevant point | 49°50.023′N. | 02°34.533′W. | | (b) | HMS A7 | Area situated within 200 metres from the relevant point | 50°18.518′N. | 04°17.984′W. | | (c) | HMS Bulwark | Area situated within 100 metres from the relevant point | 51°25.392′N. | 00°39.172′E. |
Schedule 2 details the establishment of controlled sites, linking specific geographical areas to designated vessels.
Each entry specifies which vessel's remains are being protected, the size of the controlled zone (varying from 100m to 400m radii), and the precise WGS 84 coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the central point.
Registrations (a) through (c) cover HMS Affray (400m zone), HMS A7 (200m zone), and HMS Bulwark (100m zone), marking the beginning of the defined protected sea areas.
Article 3
| | Remains vessels concerned | of | Area designated as controlled site | Latitude relevant point | of | Longitude of relevant point | |-----|-----------------------------|------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|------|-------------------------------| | (d) | HMS B2 | | Area situated within 300 metres from the relevant point | 51°07.153′N. | | 01°27.587′E. | | (e) | HMS Cobra | | Area situated within 100 metres from the relevant point | 53°27.00′N. | | 01°07.00′E. | | (f) | HMS Dasher | | Area situated within 200 metres from the relevant point | 55°37.747′N. | | 05°00.953′W. | | (g) | HMS Exmouth | | Area situated within 750 metres from the relevant point | 58°18.467′N. | | 02°28.938′W. | | (h) | HMS Formidable | | Area situated within 400 metres from the relevant point | 50°13.179′N. | | 03°04.071′W. | | (i) | HMS Hampshire | | Area situated within 300 metres from the relevant point | 59°07.065′N. | | 03°23.843′W. | | (j) | HMS H5 | | Area situated within 300 metres from the relevant point | 53°05.483′N. | | 04°41.975′W. | | (k) | HMS Natal | | Area situated within 100 metres from the relevant point | 57°41.2415′N. | | 04°05.3207′W. | | (l) | HMCS Regina | | Area situated within 100 metres from the relevant point | 50°42.769′N. | | 04°58.423′W. | | (m) | HMS Royal Oak | | Area situated within 350 metres from the relevant point | 58°55.848′N. | | 02°59.001′W. | | (n) | HMCS Trentonian | | Area situated within 100 metres from the relevant point | 50°7.037′N. | | 04°44.609′W. |
This section continues the list initiated in Schedule 2, detailing controlled sites (d) through (n).
It shows that the protected zones vary significantly; for instance, the area around HMS Exmouth is protected by the largest boundary at 750 metres, reflecting potential debris fields or site complexity.
New sites designated here include HMS Cobra, HMCS Regina, and HMCS Trentonian.
The formatting contains some extraneous words ('of') likely inherited from merging table code.
| | Remains vessels concerned | of Area designated as controlled site | Latitude of relevant point | Longitude of relevant point | |-----|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------| | (o) | the UB-81 | Area situated within 250 metres from the relevant point | 50°29.442′N. | 00°58.351′W. | | (p) | HMS Vanguard | Area situated within 350 metres from the relevant point | 58°51.400′N. | 03°06.405′W. |
The final entries for Schedule 2 cover sites (o) and (p), protecting the wreck of the German submarine UB-81 (250m zone) and HMS Vanguard (350m zone) using precise coordinate locations.
This confirms that controlled sites cover wrecks from different conflicts and naval forces, all subject to the regulations of the 1986 Act.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order designates vessels and controlled sites for protection under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 ('the Act').
Article 2 provides for, and Schedule 1 lists, the vessels designated as vessels to which the Act applies. This list includes all those vessels which were designated in the previous designation Order, and also includes the following vessels, which are designated as vessels for the first time under the Act: HMS Albacore, RFA Cairndale, HMS Coquette, RFA Dinsdale, Emile Deschamps, RFA Gray Ranger, HMS Hawke, RFA Hungerford, RFA Industry, HMS Jason, HMS Kale, RFA Montenol, ML-247, HMS Nottingham, HMS Recruit, RFA Salviking, RFA Slavol, USCG Tampa, TB-10, and TB-11.
Article 3 provides for, and Schedule 2 lists, the areas designated as controlled sites under the Act. This includes all those areas which were designated in the previous designation Order; for HMS Royal Oak and HMS Vanguard, the areas around them designated as a controlled site have been extended to 350 metres, and for HMS Natal the co-ordinates of the relevant point have been altered. Controlled sites have been designated for the first time for HMS Cobra, HMCS Regina, and HMCS Trentonian.
Article 4 revokes the previous designation Order.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the Order designates protected vessels and sites under the 1986 Act, although the note itself holds no legal standing.
Article 2's designations in Schedule 1 include vessels carried over from the 2019 Order plus several new additions, such as HMS Albacore and Emile Deschamps.
Article 3's protected sites in Schedule 2 carry over previous designations while extending the protection zones around HMS Royal Oak and HMS Vanguard to 350 metres, and slightly moving the reference point for HMS Natal.
New sites for HMS Cobra, HMCS Regina, and HMCS Trentonian are also established.
Finally, Article 4 confirms the revocation of the 2019 Order, and the accompanying statement notes that a full impact assessment was waived because no significant impact on public, private, or voluntary sectors is anticipated.
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