(1) Subject to this section, no action shall be maintained to enforce any claim or lien against a ship or its owners in respect of any damage or loss to another ship, its cargo or freight, or to any property on board, or in respect of damages for loss of life or personal injuries suffered by any person on board the ship, caused by the fault of the first-mentioned ship, irrespective of whether such ship be wholly or partly in fault, or in respect of any salvage services, unless proceedings therein are commenced within 2 years from the date when the damage or loss or injury was caused or the salvage services were rendered.