Armed Forces Bill - Clause 47 

What does it mean for Divers? - Mike William

Tuesday 24th March 2026

Cost:  Free Sponsored by The SHIPS Project       

The Armed Services Bill, currenty before Parliament, if enacted, will change the law relating to diving on military remains in UK Territorial Waters and on UK military remains beyond UK waters for UK nationals and UK vessels. This talk will briefly cover the existing law and explain what the proposed changes are.

Mike Williams

Professor Mike Williams is a Visiting Professor at Plymouth University’s Law section, and a former Honorary Professor at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. He has published extensively on the law relating to the foreshore and seabed and underwater cultural heritage. He has advised government departments and agencies, both in the UK and abroad and was retained as an advisor to the Crown Estate (Marine Division) on foreshore and seabed law. Mike is Vice Chair of the UK’s Joint Nautical Archaeological Policy Committee, is a member of the Ministry of Defence’s Expert Panel on HMS Victory 1744, is Chair of the Devon & Severn Inshore Fishery and Conservation Authority, Vice Chair of the Association of Inshore Fishery and Conservation Authorities, is the Honorary Secretary of the Nautical Archaeology Society (a UK registered charity), a Director of Mast Heritage, a Harbour Commissioner, an accredited UNESCO NGO Expert and a member of Devon & Cornwall Police’s Peninsula Heritage Crime Partnership. Mike is a qualified commercial and recreational diver and as a member of the South West Maritime Archaeology Group conducted archaeological operations on several UK protected wreck sites.

Talk Times

The talks this season will be at Club 27, and it will be open at 6:00 pm

Talks start at 7 pm and last for approximately 45 minutes

Club 27 is next to The Kings Head pub and is situated above the Re-Wind Retro Music Bar so access is up stairs. The entrance for Club 27 is a red door with number 27 on and above it. Club 27 will only be open for the lecture series as a private event and the talks will not be broadcast online. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair access; however, we are collectively happy to help anyone up the stairs.

Parking
There are several car parks and paid street parking available around Club 27, which are highlighted in yellow below.

Car Parks: Brenton Side, Barcode Car Park, Britannia Car Parks, Vauxhall Street Car Park

Street Parking: Looe Street and How Street