US Opposes Auction of 100-Plus Titanic Artifacts as Salvager Tests Court Limits

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22

Newly unsealed court filings show the US government is trying to block RMS Titanic Inc. from auctioning more than 100 artifacts recovered from the wreck.
Noaa says the sale would breach the company’s legal obligations and past agreements to keep the items together for museum and exhibition display rather than private sale.
RMS Titanic argues court approval is not required and had proposed pairing the auction with a four-city global tour; the company did not comment on Monday.
The dispute revives a long-running fight over Titanic relics: courts, preservation groups and victims’ relatives have previously resisted sales, even as memorabilia linked to the 1912 sinking that killed more than 1,500 people draws prices from $900,000 to nearly $2 million.