Legal Status of Government Merchant Ships in International Law

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XII

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2. Introduction

   • Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

   Pages 1-2

3. Government Ships and Their Status in International Law

   • Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

   Pages 3-48

4. Jurisdiction Over Foreign Merchant Ships

   • Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

   Pages 49-80

5. Illustrations from Case Law and State Practice

   • Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

   Pages 81-118

6. Conventions

   • Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

   Pages 119-149

7. Conclusions

   • Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

   Pages 150-163

8. Back Matter

   Pages 164-177

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This book is devoted to an examination of the legal status of govern­ ment merchant ships while on the high seas or in the waters of foreign states in time of peace. The object of this examination is to ascertain whether there is any rule of international law which accords such a ship a higher status than that of private merchant ships. Whether government merchant ships, unlike private ships, are entitled to certain immunities from the jurisdiction of foreign states is the question that we have set out to answer in this book. A discussion of the rules concerning the nationality of such a ship or the jurisdiction of the flag state over her does not find a place in this work. A government merchant ship may be defined as a merchant ship l owned or operated by a state. Immunity of a ship here means the exemption of a government ship from the jurisdiction of any state other than the flag state. This term also connotes the immunity of the flag state from the jurisdiction of the tribunals of foreign states in respect of proceedings connected with such a ship. Immunity of persons means the exemption of persons in the service of a govern­ ment ship, or other persons on board her, from the jurisdiction of any state other than the flag state.

• Customs
• Immunity
• civil law
• international law
• law
• survey
• tax on wages

• Kottayam, Kerala, India

  Thamarappallil Kochu Thommen

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