A Dutch salvage company has been slapped with a fine of nearly $435 million by a crown court in the UK for illegally scrapping a WWI-era shipwreck in the Celtic Sea.

In August 2016, the Dutch-registered salvage ship Friendship was found by the Royal Navy vessel HMS Severn lifting steel and copper from the bottom of the ocean with a grapple, The Maritime Executive Reports.

The scrap metal came from the wreck of the SS Harrovian, a steamship that was sunk by a German U-boat during WWI.

The Severn found the Friendship’s master did not have a salvage license for the $156,000 in metal on board.

The HMS Severn impounded the vessel, sailing her to the port of Fowey where she was handed over to the UK Maritime Management Organisation.

Charges have been issued against the Friendship’s captain, Walter Bakker, and shipowner Friendship Offshore BV for three unlicensed salvage operations at the wreck site.

During the trial, Bakker admitted he did not have the relevant marine licence.

He also showed how he manipulated the vessel’s Automatic Identification System to avoid detection.

After an 18-month trial, the owner was issued with fines.

"This case is very important and shows that we will take action against those deliberately avoiding the required consents in order to make a profit. The SS Harrovian is an important heritage asset and this result sends out a clear message that vessels of this nature should not be exploited," said the Marine Management Organization in a statement.