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Who would own the wreck if it were found?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Where did the Flor de la Mar go down?·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: portugal, as flag state of a royal vessel, under the 2001 Convention's rules and sovereign immunityAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. Indonesia, as the coastal state in whose territorial waters the wreck lies. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

Three states assert rights and only one is party to the treaty that governs such wrecks; the answer decides whether a find is excavated, salvaged or left⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 4

Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible

History

  1. UNESCO puts forward: portugal, as flag state of a royal vessel, under the 2001 Convention's rules and sovereign immunity.
  2. UNESCO: portugal is a party to the 2001 Convention; Indonesia and Malaysia are not listed as parties.For: Portugal, as flag state of a royal vessel, under the 2001 Convention's rules and sovereign immunity.
  3. Perbadanan Muzium Melaka: malaysia maintains a replica-ship museum at Malacca and asserts the cargo as Malaccan heritage.For: Malaysia, as successor to the Malacca sultanate whose treasure the cargo was.
  4. Asked on this site
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