Carriage or coinage? Cargo and the State Immunity Act: Argentum Exploration Ltd v Republic of South Africa [2024] UKSC 16; [2024] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 585

In this case Argentum was seeking reward for its salvage services in retrieving 2,364 silver bars from the Indian Ocean. The silver bars had been on board the passenger and cargo liner SS Tilawa when it was sunk by torpedoes in 1942. The claim had been served on the silver bars once landed at Southampton, but their owner at the time of sinking was South Africa which responded by seeking immunity from the jurisdiction of the High Court. The question of the Republic’s immunity depended on the correct interpretation of section 10(4)(a) of the State Immunity Act 1978.