SECTION 1

In this Convention the following words shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them : (1) "Maritime Claim" means a claim arising out of one or more of the following : (a) damage caused by any ship either in collision or otherwise; (b) loss of life or personal injury caused by any ship or occurring in connexion with the operation of any ship ; (c) salvage ; (d) agreement relating to the use or hire of any ship whether by charter-party or otherwise; (e) agreement relating to the carriage of goods in any ship whether by char ter-party or otherwise ; *In accordance with article 14 (a), the Convention came into force on 24 February 1956, six months after the date of deposit of the second instrument of ratification. Here follows a list of States which have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession (a) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, indicating the date of deposit and the date of entry into force of the Convention for each State : Date of entry State Date of deposit into force Spain .............. 8 December 1953 24 February 1956 Switzerland ............ 28 May 1954 (a) 24 February 1956 Haiti ............... 4 November 1954 (a) 24 February 1956 Costa Rica (with reservations)* .... 13 July 1955 (a) 24 February 1956 Egypt (Confirming the reservation made at the time of signature; see p. 210 of this volume) .......... 24 August 1955 24 February 1956 Holy See ............. 10 August 1956 10 February 1957 Cambodia (with reservation)* .... 12 November 1956 (a) 12 May 1957 Portugal ............. 4 May 1957 4 November 1957 France** ............ 25 May 1957 25 November 1957 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (with reservations)* 18 March 1959 18 September 1959 Belgium ............. 10 April 1961 10 October 1961 * For the text of these reservations, see p. 214 of this volume. ** A notification of application to the French Overseas Territories, the Trust Territories of Togoland and Cameroon under French administration was received by the Government of Belgium on 23 April 1958 and took effect on 23.October 1958. (/) loss of or damage to goods including baggage carried in any ship ; (#)^general average; (A) bottomry; (i) towage ; (f) pilotage; (k) goods or materials wherever supplied to a ship for her operation or main tenance ; (/) construction, repair or equipment of any ship or dock charges and dues; (m) wages of Masters, Officers, or crew; (») Master's disbursements, including disbursements made by shippers, char terers or agents on behalf of a ship or her owner ; (o) disputes as to the title to or ownership of any ship ; (/>) disputes between co-owners of any ship as to the ownership, possession employment or earnings of that ship ; (q) the mortgage or hypothecation of any ship. (2) " Arrest " means the detention of a ship by judicial process to secure a maritime claim, but does not include the seizure of a ship in execution or satis faction of a judgment. (3) " Person " includes individuals, partnerships and bodies corporate, Governments, their Departments, and Public Authorities. (4) " Claimant " means a person who alleges that a maritime claim exists in his favour.