Anyone who finds material from the MSC Napoli, or any other shipwreck, is legally obliged to report it - or they could face a hefty fine for stealing.

Under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, a person who discovers items from a wreck within UK territorial waters must report it to the Receiver of Wreck, who then investigates who owns it.

The owner has one year from the date it was reported to come forward and claim his or her property, with the finder temporarily able to keep it until it is claimed.

If, after a year, no owner has come forward, the property automatically becomes the possession of the Crown although, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency website, "in many cases the finder will be able to keep items of unclaimed wreck".

The main exception to this rule would be if the find is deemed historically or archeologically important, in which case it may be claimed by the Crown and placed in a local museum.

In any case, if the Crown demands that any property is returned, the finder may be reimbursed with a Salvers' Reward.

Report of Wreck and Salvage forms are available from the Receiver of Wreck, from local coastguard stations, or from the MCA's website, www.mcga.gov.uk.

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