International Workshop on World War Shipwrecks in Southeast Asia – Threats of Marine Pollution and Looting in Indonesia

Last 6-7 December 2023, Bobby C. Orillaneda, Curator of our Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division (MUCHD), participated in the Workshop on World War Shipwrecks in Southeast Asia – Threats of Marine Pollution and Looting at Grand Kemang Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Organized by UNESCO, the workshop aims to enhance regional awareness and interest in sustainable development and protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH). With a particular focus on World War shipwrecks, the workshop also seeks to reflect on current challenges and to facilitate expert discussions and regional cooperation to identify key safeguarding actions for maritime cultural heritage.

Country Representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam as well as international experts from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, and Japan comprised the attendees. Mr. Orillaneda presented the “Status of World War II Shipwreck Research in the Philippines” as a Country Report on Session 1: Human Threats and Impacts of Natural Disaster and Climate Change on Sunken Warships – Issues and Challenges. He also moderated Session 2: Legal Regime for Preservation and Protection of Wrecks of Historical or Archaeological Significance, and Session 3: Country Presentations – Issues and Challenges of Cambodia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. He was also interviewed by UNESCO media and Dr. Noel Tan, Senior Archaeology Officer for the SEAMEO-SPAFA.

The conference participants have identified issues such as the 2001 Convention of the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, funding, infrastructure, government support, looting, climate change, shipwreck tourism, potentially polluting wrecks (PPW), and the values attached to WW shipwrecks. At the end of the workshop, a recommendation was drafted, recognizing the importance of Southeast Asian UCH, the threat it faces, and the need for cooperation among different stakeholders in each country as well as the larger Southeast Asian region with the help of the UNESCO 2001 Convention to address these issues.