Despite growing recognition of the global value of underwater cultural heritage ( UCH ), along with intensified international efforts to ensure its protection, the possibility of its inscription on the World Heritage List has never been comprehensively examined. Arguing that the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage ( UCH Convention) is insufficient alone to protect globally outstanding wrecks, such as the Titanic and the Lusitania , this article examines in detail the many legal and practical challenges involved with listing such sites under the World Heritage Convention. By reviewing key international agreements such as the UCH Convention, World Heritage Convention, Law of the Sea Convention and the International Titanic Agreement, it draws the conclusion that it is the improved offshore management of UCH —through ‘cultural’ marine protected areas operating under the framework of the UCH Convention—which would open the possibility of nomination to the World Heritage List.

中文翻译：

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通过世界遗产公约保护杰出的水下文化遗产：泰坦尼克号和卢西塔尼亚号作为世界遗产

尽管人们越来越认识到水下文化遗产 (UCH) 的全球价值，并且国际社会为确保其保护做出了更大的努力，但从未对其列入《世界遗产名录》的可能性进行过全面审查。认为联合国教科文组织 2001 年《保护水下文化遗产公约》（UCH 公约）不足以保护全球著名的沉船，如泰坦尼克号和卢西塔尼亚号，本文详细研究了将这些遗址列入名单所涉及的许多法律和实践挑战根据世界遗产公约。通过审查水下文化遗产公约、世界遗产公约、海洋法公约和国际泰坦尼克号协定等重要国际协定，