Federal Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, who serves in Norfolk, Virginia, halted plans to auction more than 100 artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck.
Under Smith's decision on Monday, no auction can be held without the court's approval. RMS Titanic, which holds exclusive salvage rights to the Titanic wreck, argued that the artifacts were outside the court's jurisdiction, but the judge rejected the objection.
RMS Titanic ordered to provide inventory
The court asked the company to submit an inventory of the artifacts in the collection and information on the current condition of each item. Smith also expressed concern about the conditions under which the pieces in the collection are being preserved, citing the company's financial difficulties.
The items planned for auction were recovered from the Titanic wreck during a deep-sea expedition conducted decades ago. The collection includes jewelry decorated with precious stones, tableware and a bronze angel statue that adorned the ship's grand staircase.
US and France oppose the sale
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, historians and archaeologists opposed the auction plan. These groups argued that the artifacts should be preserved and maintained as a collection rather than being sold individually.
The French government also objected to the auction. France had participated in the expedition during which some of the artifacts were recovered from the wreck.
The sinking of the Titanic
The Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic in April 1912 during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. The disaster resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people.
