The United Nations has moved to protect the wreck of the Titanic amid growing concern at its deterioration as a result of tourist visits and exploration submarines crashing into its structure.

The 100-year old wreck has been brought under the cover of the 2001 Unesco convention on the protection of underwater cultural heritage, which gives signed-up member states the right to prevent exploration deemed unscientific or unethical, seize illicitly recovered artefacts and close their ports to all vessels undertaking exploration that is not done according to the principles of the doctrine.

Robert Ballard, the undersea explorer who was part of the expedition that discovered the wreck in 1985, has raised concerns about its condition and in 2004 undertook a dive that found the mainmast had been destroyed, the ship’s bell and light torn off and several holes had been made in the deck.

“When [submarines] bump into things, they can do damage,” he said at the time. “When they land, they can do damage. You can clearly see, all over the ship, where the common landing sites are knocking the holes in the deck.”

Announcing the application of the heritage convention to the wreck on Thursday, Unesco’s director general, Irina Bokova, called on divers not to dump equipment or commemorative plaques on the Titanic, a common practice that is causing conservationists significant concern.

“The sinking of the Titanic is anchored in the memory of humanity and I am pleased that this site can now be protected by the Unesco convention,” said Bokova.

“But there are thousands of other shipwrecks that need safeguarding as well. All of them are archaeological sites of scientific and historical value. They are also the memory of human tragedy that should be treated with respect. We do not tolerate the plundering of cultural sites on land, and the same should be true for our sunken heritage.”

The convention stipulates that underwater heritage should be preserved in its original location in the first instance and that it should not be exploited for trade or speculation.

However, the protections are limited by the fact that neither the US nor Canada is among the 41 signatory states and a number of the tourist and exploration trips chartered to the wreck site 4,000m under the sea off the coast of Newfoundland come from those countries.

A US company called Bluefish is offering 40 places on two trips in submersibles to the wreck this July, with each place costing $59,680 (£37,636). The brochure promises: “Experience for yourself the mystique and majesty of this poignant chapter in humanity’s collective history.”

Ulrike Guerin, the Unesco official responsible for the convention, said: “Damage has been done by ROVs [remote-controlled submersibles] bumping in the wreck and memorial plaques being placed on it.

“One ROV got also caught in the cables. Artifacts have been taken and are for sale now and this is a main issue. The Unesco convention foresees very detailed rules for activities directed at ancient wrecks, for instance supervision by an archeologist, respect for human remains and the prohibition of the commercial for-profit recovery of artifacts.”

A couple are hoping to sell the house where the Titanic’s captain was born – despite it being haunted by the doomed vessel’s skipper.

Former residents of the 19th century Victorian property – the birthplace of Captain Edward John Smith – are convinced they’ve seen the ghost of the ship’s master in the bedroom.

The previous owners of the house even reported a mysterious flood in the kitchen and an ICY chill in the dining room.

Captain Smith, who was among 1,500 people who died when the Titanic struck an iceberg a century ago, lived at the house until he began his naval career as a teenager.

Married couple Neil and Louise Bonner paid £35,000 for the two-bedroom property in the Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, in 2002.

But after renting it out for the last decade, the couple say there have been a number of ghostly sightings and ‘spooky goings-on’.

Freelance writer Mr Bonner, 64, said: ‘Some years ago we had a single chap living in there and he rang up one day convinced he had seen the ghost of the captain.

‘He had been at sea himself and said he was in bed when he saw him drift across the room.

‘The ghost wasn’t in a naval uniform or anything but he was certain he had seen him.

‘It hasn’t caused anyone to move out, but without doubt it could be haunted by the captain’s ghost because other people have reported spooky goings-on.

‘We’ve heard of things going bump in the night from other tenants.

‘Some have said they felt a really cold chill passing over them – as cold as an iceberg.’

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the disaster, the couple, who live in Baswich, Staffordshire, are now putting the house back on the market for £80,000.

Mr Bonner added: ‘We bought it after seeing it featured on the news.

‘It’s been fascinating to have had a connection to the Titanic story and it’s certainly provided an interesting talking point over the years.’

Around five years ago the house suffered a watery fate like the Titanic – when a young couple flooded the kitchen.

Mr Bonner added: ‘We had a young couple in there who had stacked all the dishes in the sink after a party and they went away for the weekend but left the taps on.

‘We had a phone call from them on the Monday morning sheepishly saying “we’ve flooded the kitchen”.

‘I definitely had that sinking feeling when they started to explain, but at least it is all water-tight now.’

The couple have already been flooded with inquiries about the historic house – including interest from Titanic societies across the world.

Mrs Bonner, 60, a former university lecturer, said the end-of-terrace house was built in the early 19th century and used as a corner shop by Captain Smith’s mother.

She said: ‘It’s just a very humble and working-class house.

‘Captain Smith left home when he was 13 or 14-years-old and he went away to sea.

‘We will miss the place. What we’re really looking for is a Titanic enthusiast to buy it and appreciate the history of it.

‘Since it went on the market it’s already triggered some interest.

‘One of those has included someone on the phone from a Titanic museum in Germany.’

For Captain Smith, commanding the Titanic on its maiden voyage to New York should have been a fitting end to his illustrious career.

But on April 14, 1912, just four days into its crossing, the supposedly unsinkable ship struck an iceberg in the Atlantic.

The glancing collision caused Titanic’s hull plates to buckle inwards in a number of locations on her starboard side – opening five of her 16 watertight compartments to the sea.

Over the next two and a half hours, the ship gradually filled with water and sank – sending 1,500 people to an icy death.

A 3D version of the 1997 James Cameron-directed blockbuster, Titanic, hit cinema screens this week.