State Immunity Act 1978

17 Interpretation of Part I. U.K.

(1) In this Part of this Act—

• “the Brussels Convention” means the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Concerning the Immunity of State-owned Ships signed in Brussels on 10th April 1926;

• “commercial purposes”means purposes of such transactions or activities as are mentioned in section 3(3) above;

• “ship” includes hovercraft.

(2) In sections 2(2) and 13(3) above references to an agreement include references to a treaty, convention or other international agreement.

(3) For the purposes of sections 3 to 8 above the territory of the United Kingdom shall be deemed to include any dependent territory in respect of which the United Kingdom is a party to the European Convention on State Immunity.

(4) In sections 3(1), 4(1), 5 and 16(2) above references to the United Kingdom include references to its territorial waters and any area designated under section 1(7) of the M1 Continental Shelf Act 1964.

[F1 (4A) In sections 4 and 16(1) above references to proceedings relating to a contract of employment include references to proceedings between the parties to such a contract in respect of any statutory rights or duties to which they are entitled or subject as employer or employee.]

(5) In relation to Scotland in this Part of this Act “action in rem” means such an action only in relation to Admiralty proceedings.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 17(4A) inserted (23.2.2023) by The State Immunity Act 1978 (Remedial) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/112), arts. 1(1), 6 (with art. 1(3))

Marginal Citations

M1 1964 c. 29.