the VOC tolerated the smuggling because the profit benefited both the smugglers and the company. After the wreck, the floor timbers collapsed causing the decks of the ship to fall on top of each other. This provides a snapshot of the physical and social aspects of life on board in three layers: the top layer consists of the officers’ dining room; the middle layer comprises the constable’s cabin, containing 50 muskets; and the bottom layer includes the cartridge locker and gun deck, containing bar and round shot. The 2005 salvage operation has led to criticism from heritage organisations worldwide, as some of the international principles concerning the protection of archaeological heritage (Valletta Treaty 1992, UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001) were ignored. In 2007, the Rooswijk was designated as a protected wreck site under UK legislation which prevented further salvage work taking place. Statutory Instrument 2007/61 defines the restricted area as a circle of radius 150 m centred on 51° 16.443' N 01° 34.537' E. The Netherlands changed their policy in that same year, making it impossible to issue further salvage rights for historic shipwrecks. The ship's remains lie at a depth of some 25 metres and are owned by the Dutch Government. In 2016 the wreck was placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. The Rooswijk was at high risk due to persistent erosion, shipworm attacking the wood and the high threat of unauthorised diving. RCE and Historic England undertook a monitoring survey of the site which concluded further work was necessary. Excavation began in 2017 lead by MSDS Marine. During excavation projects, new discoveries were taken to a warehouse in Ramsgate for recording and initial preservation. Further analysis and conservation took place in a Historic England storage facility before ultimately being returned to the Netherlands. Amongst the finds were a cauldron, a pan and a lid made from copper alloy. References General information about the wreck "Schatten VOC-schip De Rooswijk overgedragen aan Nederland" (12 December 2005). Trouw (Dutch newspaper), p. 3. Algra, Wybo (13 December 2005). "Schatten uit een varend VOC-dorp". Trouw (Dutch newspaper), p. 1 and 5. Press Release from Dept Culture Media and Sport on the designation of the Rooswijk, retrieved 13-01-2007 The National Geographic Channel's Drain the Oceans has an episode about salvaging the treasure from the sunken ship in S1 E5 entitled "Sunken Treasures". External links Historic England