Poland's maritime museums and collections were destroyed during World War II. To develop new historical-nautical collections, a completely new organizational structure was established by the Polish Maritime Museum in Gdansk. An Underwater Research Centre was set up in the museum and at its disposal was a research vessel, a conservation laboratory, and other technical support services. A wreck site was drawn up. Wrecks in depths greater than 20 meters tend to be in a better state of preservation than those in shallower waters. In one case, the <i>Solen</i> has been preserved by being towed to an undisturbed part of the bay to avoid damage from commercial ship traffic. Policy regarding conservation and storage is explained; the emphasis is upon documentation. Legislation does not yet exist protecting objects lying in Polish coastal waters.