Abandoned Shipwrecks Act particular case of the salvage of the "Nuestra Señora de Atocha", an historic and culturally significant wreck off the coast of Florida, in which the State of Florida was unable to prevent illegal salvage operations due to a lack of a suitable law that would disallow it, spurred action at the federal level to address the situation. On April 29, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill (Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100-298, 102 Stat. 432) into law. The law provides that any wreck that lies embedded in a state's submerged lands is property of that state and
SS Benwood the collision, Captain Skjelbred made last-minute efforts to avoid the "Robert C. Tuttle" by ordering the engine full astern (fastest reverse). Moments later,the bow of the "Benwood" punched into the "Robert C. Tuttle" just aft of the port side bow, above the waterline. This caused the bow of the "Benwood" to collapse upon itself. The Benwood began taking on water at a brisk rate. Captain Skjelbred turned hard for shore, attempting to save the ship by grounding, but some time between 1:10 and 2:00 a.m. was forced to abandon ship. The "Benwood" came to rest stern-to on a sandy slope