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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. Heritage
  4. Underwater cultural heritage
  5. International agreements

Sidebar first - EN - Heritage

  • Underwater cultural heritage
    • Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018
    • Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database
    • Environmental planning advice
    • Famous Australian shipwrecks
    • Protected zones
    • International agreements
    • Possessing, exporting, importing underwater heritage
    • Education and getting involved
    • Visiting underwater heritage sites

International agreements

Australia maintains several international agreements to help protect our underwater cultural heritage. These include memoranda of understanding (MoU),  memoranda of agreement (MoA) and Technical Agreements (TA) which are formal documents stating mutual goals between state parties.

By making MoUs, MoAs and TAs with our international partners, we can grow our research relationships and improve the management of underwater cultural heritage sites in Australian waters and around the world.

UNESCO 2001 Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage

The Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage entered into force on 2 January 2009.

Australia is currently considering ratification in accordance with requirements outlined under Australia's Treaty Making Guidelines.

  • More information about UNESCO 2001

Current agreements

Indonesia

In 2015 we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian National Maritime Museum and  the Indonesian National Center of Archaeology for Collaboration Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage Management.

Under this memorandum, we worked together to document the HMAS Perth (I) site located in Indonesian waters in Sunda Strait.

Memorandum of understanding between Australia and Indonesia (PDF 1.58 MB) ​
Memorandum of understanding between Australia and Indonesia (DOCX 42 KB)

Netherlands

On 15 September 2017, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands on how our two countries jointly manage and research our shipwrecks, sunken relics and other underwater cultural heritage.

This memorandum supersedes the outdated management arrangements of a 1972 agreement between our two nations on old Dutch shipwrecks in Australian waters.

Shipwrecks covered include Zuytdorp (1712), Batavia (1629), Vergulde Draeck (more commonly known as the Gilt Dragon) (1656) and Zeewyk (1727).

Under this memorandum, Australia and the Netherlands will collaborate on research and management of these shipwrecks and any future Old Dutch shipwreck discovered in Australian waters to the benefit of both countries.

The new memorandum supports joint projects and capacity building with the aim of increasing public awareness of the maritime heritage of both countries.

Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Netherlands 2017 (PDF 681 KB)
Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Netherlands 2017 (DOCX 35 KB)

On 30 January 2023, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to promote clean energy supply chains between Australia and the Netherlands on green hydrogen.

The MoU demonstrates Australia and the Netherlands commitment to working together to advance shared clean energy interests and support emerging clean energy industries.

The MoU, signed at the Port of Rotterdam, covers:

  • hydrogen trade policy, standards and certification schemes;
  • port infrastructure and supply chain development;
  • innovative hydrogen technologies, including shipping, equipment and services; and
  • government policies on safety, social licence and regulations for hydrogen.

Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Netherlands 2023 (PDF 631 KB)
Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Netherlands 2023 (DOCX 134 KB)

Papua New Guinea

On 24 October 2019, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Papua New Guinea’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) and the National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG). The MoU was entered into for the purpose of collaboration in research in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage management. NMAG and CEPA share legislative responsibilities for protecting underwater cultural heritage in Papua New Guinea’s waters. Under this agreement we will work together to protect Australia’s sovereign vessel HMAS AE1 wrecked in Papua New Guinea’s waters and on other projects. The agreement requires all activities related to the implementation of the MoU to be conducted in accordance with international best practice as outlined in the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its associated Annex Rules.

Memorandum of understanding between Papua New Guinea and Australia (PDF 919 KB)
Memorandum of understanding between Papua New Guinea and Australia (DOCX 41 KB)

Philippines

On 7 August 2020, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Museum of the Philippines. The MoU facilitates collaboration in research in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage management. Under this agreement, the two parties will work together to protect our shared heritage in each country’s waters and to collaborate on other projects. All activities related to the implementation of the MoU are to be conducted in accordance with international best practice outlined in the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its associated Annex Rules.

Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Philippines (PDF 2.24 MB)
Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Philippines (DOCX 37 KB)

Solomon Islands

On 21 January 2022, the we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Solomon Islands National Museum.

The MoU facilitates collaboration in research in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural heritage management. Under this agreement, the parties will work together to protect our shared heritage in each country’s waters and to collaborate on other projects.

All activities related to the implementation of the MoU are to be conducted in accordance with international best practice outlined in the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its associated Annex Rules.

Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Solomon Islands (PDF 283 KB)
Memorandum of understanding between Australia and the Solomon Islands (DOCX 84 KB)

United States of America

In 2010 the we entered into a Memorandum of Arrangement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Ocean Service and Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

The memorandum promotes cooperation in underwater cultural heritage resource management activities, maritime archaeological research, education and resource protection efforts in the Pacific region. This agreement was re-signed in 2022 and is current until 2027.

Memorandum of Arrangement between Australia and the USA (PDF 253 KB) ​
Memorandum of Arrangement between Australia and the USA (PDF 84 KB) ​

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Last updated: 08 February 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.