| maritime liens |
| Interviewing - Mates - Chief Engineers - Designated Duty Engineers - Interviews - Deckhands Able Bodied Seamen - Tankermen - Dispatchers - QMED - Interviewing |
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What is a maritime lien?
A lien is a legal claim against a vessel. It can arise if a vessel owner does not
meet a financial obligation to someone and that someone decides to file a
lien against the vessel. A liens can result if a cruise ship takes on fuel oil and
lube oil and doesn’t pay the bunkering company for those items. A lien can
result if a tanker company fails to pay the officers and crew and they file a lien
against the ship. A lien can arise if a commercial fisherman gets his hand
crushed in a net hauling accident and the operators dismiss his claims that
he sustained a personal injury and that he needs reimbursement for hospital
bills and medical expenses. A maritime lien follows the vessel anywhere it
travels. Liens may be governed by the admiralty and maritime laws of the flag
of registry of the vessel, but there are situations where conflicts of law may
arise because of jurisdiction, citizenship and other factors. There is a pecking
order among liens under U.S. law that gives some liens higher priority than
others. Claims for crew wages are generally at the top of the list of legal
priorities given to a lien. Then come salvage claims, tort claims (claims for
slipping and falling, personal injury, or other civil wrongs) and legal claims for
goods and services such as bunkers, pilotage, wharfage and other items
that a vessel may have enjoyed the benefits of.
A lien is a legal claim against a vessel. It can arise if a vessel owner does not
meet a financial obligation to someone and that someone decides to file a
lien against the vessel. A liens can result if a cruise ship takes on fuel oil and
lube oil and doesn’t pay the bunkering company for those items. A lien can
result if a tanker company fails to pay the officers and crew and they file a lien
against the ship. A lien can arise if a commercial fisherman gets his hand
crushed in a net hauling accident and the operators dismiss his claims that
he sustained a personal injury and that he needs reimbursement for hospital
bills and medical expenses. A maritime lien follows the vessel anywhere it
travels. Liens may be governed by the admiralty and maritime laws of the flag
of registry of the vessel, but there are situations where conflicts of law may
arise because of jurisdiction, citizenship and other factors. There is a pecking
order among liens under U.S. law that gives some liens higher priority than
others. Claims for crew wages are generally at the top of the list of legal
priorities given to a lien. Then come salvage claims, tort claims (claims for
slipping and falling, personal injury, or other civil wrongs) and legal claims for
goods and services such as bunkers, pilotage, wharfage and other items
that a vessel may have enjoyed the benefits of.
A maritime lien can arise from any
number of sources. If a cruise ship
fails to pay the catering company for
provisions, the company may be
legally entitled to assert a lien to have
the vessel arrested. If a tanker
owner fails to pay the pilotage
company, they may be legally entitled
to assert a lien.
number of sources. If a cruise ship
fails to pay the catering company for
provisions, the company may be
legally entitled to assert a lien to have
the vessel arrested. If a tanker
owner fails to pay the pilotage
company, they may be legally entitled
to assert a lien.