18Actions in rem

18 Actions in rem

(1) A foreign State is not immune in a proceeding commenced as an action in rem against a ship concerning a claim in connection with the ship if, at the time when the cause of action arose, the ship was in use for commercial purposes. (2) A foreign State is not immune in a proceeding commenced as an action in rem against a ship concerning a claim against another ship if: (a) at the time when the proceeding was instituted, the ship that is the subject of the action in rem was in use for commercial purposes; and (b) at the time when the cause of action arose, the other ship was in use for commercial purposes. (3) A foreign State is not immune in a proceeding commenced as an action in rem against cargo that was, at the time when the cause of action arose, a commercial cargo. (4) The preceding provisions of this section do not apply in relation to the arrest, detention or sale of a ship or cargo. (5) A reference in this section to a ship in use for commercial purposes or to a commercial cargo is a reference to a ship or a cargo that is commercial property as defined by subsection 32(3).