Part VIILiability of Shipowners and Others

Limitation of liability of shipowners, etc and salvors for maritime claims

185Limitation of liability for maritime claims

1

The provisions of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 as set out in Part I of Schedule 7 (in this section and Part II of that Schedule referred to as “the Convention”) shall have the force of law in the United Kingdom.

2

The provisions of Part II of that Schedule shall have effect in connection with the Convention, and subsection (1) above shall have effect subject to the provisions of that Part.

3

The provisions having the force of law under this section shall apply in relation to Her Majesty’s ships as they apply in relation to other ships.

4

The provisions having the force of law under this section shall not apply to any liability in respect of loss of life or personal injury caused to, or loss of or damage to any property of, a person who is on board the ship in question or employed in connection with that ship or with the salvage operations in question if—

a

he is so on board or employed under a contract of service governed by the law of any part of the United Kingdom; and

b

the liability arises from an occurrence which took place after the commencement of this Act.

In this subsection,

  • “ship” and “salvage operations” have the same meaning as in the Convention.