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<p>The wrecks in question – the SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm, SMS Konig, SMS Markgraf and
SMS Karlsruhe – lie within Scapa Flow, Orkney. They are protected as scheduled monuments
under the terms of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Designation
of scheduled monuments is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government and it has
given responsibility for this to Historic Environment Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Many
scheduled monuments are owned privately and their ownership can change. This does
not change their protected status. The proposed sale of the wrecks by their current
owner does not change the fact that they are scheduled monuments. Permission to undertake
works to the Scapa Flow wrecks will continue to require the prior written consent
of Historic Environment Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>Historic Environment Scotland and
the Scottish Government is considering changing the designation of the wrecks from
scheduled monuments to a Historic Marine Protected Area, a designation which was introduced
in Scotland by the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. A public consultation about this proposal
has recently taken place and the results will be published soon. Decisions about designating
Historic Marine Protected Areas are taken by Scottish Ministers.</p><p> </p>
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