Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Wednesday the wrecks of HMAS (His Majesty's Australian Ship) Sydney and the German raider Kormoran, both sunk in battle 67 years ago, will be afforded permanent protection.
Australia had discovered HMAS Sydney in deep water 200 km off the West Australian coast on March 17, 2008 following the discovery of Kormoran's wreckage nearby one day earlier.
"Now the final resting places of the crews have been permanently protected," Rudd said in a statement.
"For more than 66 years the fate of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran had been the subject of much public speculation and heartache and the finding gave the opportunity for closure for many families and friends of the crew."
Temporary measures to prohibit unauthorised intrusion into the sites were introduced soon after the vessels were discovered, but both ships will now be protected permanently by law.
The government has also taken steps to have both sites added to the National Heritage List.
Services were held around the nation on Wednesday to mark the 67th anniversary of the loss of both ships and honoring the 645 crew on the Sydney and the 78 crew on the Kormoran who lost their lives.
Source: Xinhua
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