Captain Cook's ship Endeavour claimed by Rhode Island as search goes on

A legal manoeuvre, known as 'arresting' the shipwrecks, could secure ownership with Rhode Island if the wreck is indeed found at the bottom of Newport Harbour

If the ship legendary explorer Captain James Cook used to sail around the world and claim Australia for the British is found at the bottom of Newport Harbour, Rhode Island will own it outright because of a legal manoeuvre it took nearly two decades ago based on an obscure, centuries-old maritime practice.

In 1999, Rhode Island went to federal court in Providence to do what's known as "arresting" the shipwrecks in the harbour - having the government take possession of them so a federal court could consider the state's ownership claim.