Editing Wrecking (shipwreck) (section)

== Wrecking in Europe ==

=== Britain ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2008}}
Wrecks were frequent in [[Devon]] and [[Cornwall]] where the rocky coastline, and strong prevailing onshore winds helped wreck many merchant ships and warships.

In 1735 a law was passed to make it an offence to make false lights, but no one was prosecuted as a result. In 1753 the co-called Wreck Act made unauthorized wrecking a felony punishable by death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nmmc.co.uk/publication/the-unlucky-wrecker-william-pearse-of-st-gennys-cornwall/|title=The Unlucky Wrecker: William Pearse of St Gennys &#124; NMMC|date=September 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://academic.oup.com/book/44049/chapter-abstract/371933786?redirectedFrom=fulltext|title=Validate User}}</ref>  In 1769 William Pearse was hanged at [[Launceston, Cornwall|Launceston]] in Cornwall for stealing from a wreck.<ref>[http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/cornwall.html Death sentences – Cornwall 1735–1799]</ref> It was not until after a case in the Court of Appeal in 1870 that rewards were made for rescuing people.

Wrecking was a major industry in the 19th century, and as far back as the 16th century, especially of ships returning from the New World using the [[Gulf Stream]], which passes by the south west of England. This would help to speed these ships on their way to France and Spain and put them out of position. Wreckers would attempt to frighten off the curious, suspicious or unwanted visitors, by spreading wild rumours concerning supernatural activity, ghosts and cannibals (as told about in [[Clovelly]]) near their wrecking sites.{{fact|date=October 2022}}

Wrecking was a major activity of the inhabitants of [[Stroma Island]] in the [[Pentland Firth]] off the north of [[Scotland]]. It was also well known on the [[Goodwin Sands]] off the south east of England where over 2000 wrecks have occurred. The boatmen of [[Deal, Kent|Deal]], who took supplies to ships at anchor off the coast, would plunder any wrecked vessel. Another area where wrecking was prevalent was the [[Wirral Peninsula]], near [[Liverpool]], where wrecking continued to be reported into the early twentieth century.<ref>http://www.wirralhistory.net/smugglers.html ''Wirral Smugglers, Wreckers and Pirates'' by Gavin Chappell</ref>

A 2005 BBC documentary, [[Coast (TV series)|''Coast'']], successfully replicated the conditions of false light wrecking in an experiment which suggested that a single-candle lantern onshore would be insufficient to lure a boat into dangerous water on a dark night. The boat crew did not see the light until they got within 150m of it.<ref>''Coast'' Series 1 episode 2, BBC 2005</ref>

In 2007 the container ship [[MSC Napoli|MSC ''Napoli'']] went aground off [[Branscombe]] beach in [[Devon]]. Some of its cargo was washed ashore and many wreckers plundered the cargo in spite of attempts to prevent this. People came long distances to retrieve such things as BMW motorcycles. Goods from wrecks are supposed by law to be reported to the "[[Receiver of Wreck]]" and finders will then be given a reward.

=== Denmark ===
Wrecking has been practised a long way back in Denmark. The long shorelines, the heavy international marine traffic in combination with some difficult and often harsh waters, has produced many wrecks here. It was only recently, that the light signalling was fully developed and deep sea-bed canals were dug in the often very shallow waters here, making seafaring relatively safe. [[Skagen's Vippefyr]] was constructed in 1627, along with several other rudimentary lighting signals in the following years, after complaints.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mfs.dk/da/soeg-i-soefartshistorien/digitale-udstillinger/navigation-og-verdensbilleder/hjaelpen-fra-kysten/skagens-vippefyr|title=Skagens vippefyr|language=da|publisher=Maritime Museum of Denmark|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-date=7 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207225721/http://mfs.dk/da/soeg-i-soefartshistorien/digitale-udstillinger/navigation-og-verdensbilleder/hjaelpen-fra-kysten/skagens-vippefyr|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sea floor canals came centuries later. It was and still is common practice to hire skilled Danish pilots to help navigate in and out of the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mfs.dk/da/soeg-i-soefartshistorien/digitale-udstillinger/navigation-og-verdensbilleder/hjaelpen-fra-kysten/ove-alexis-winsloev|title=Ove Alexis Winsløv|language=da|publisher=Maritime Museum of Denmark|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-date=7 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207230341/http://mfs.dk/da/soeg-i-soefartshistorien/digitale-udstillinger/navigation-og-verdensbilleder/hjaelpen-fra-kysten/ove-alexis-winsloev|url-status=dead}}</ref>

So-called wreck masters used to be employed in the Danish coastal communities, in order to oversee, report on and collect valuables from new wrecks. A former wreck masters home can be experienced at the Wreck Master's Farm near [[Rubjerg Knude]] on the North Atlantic coast for example. The last wreck master here left in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rubjergknude.dk/index.php?id=175|title=The Wreck Master's Farm|publisher=Vendsyssel Historical Museum|website=Rubjerg Knude's cultural and natural history|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> A few wreck masters are still appointed in Denmark, but nowadays the job also includes observations and reporting on oil spills, pollutions, vandalism, etc., and they work in close cooperation with the police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://strandfoged.dk/om-strandfogeden|title=Strandfoged|language=da|website=Standfogeden.dk|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-date=7 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207220512/http://strandfoged.dk/om-strandfogeden|url-status=dead}} Official website for wreck masters in Denmark</ref>