What happens if there is more than one maritime lien?
Admiralty law confers priority on the order of payment of different types of lien from the proceeds of a foreclosure sale. Holders of higher priority liens are to be paid in full before holders of lower priority liens may collect anything. Within priority ranks, the last lien to attach to the vessel is usually to be paid first, though liens may be grouped by year, season or voyage. In general, common liens are paid off in the following descending order: liens for seamans wages, and for maintenance, cure and unearned wages; salvage liens; liens securing accident claims; liens for necessaries rendered before a preferred ship mortgage lien attaches; preferred ship mortgage liens; liens for goods and services rendered after any preferred ship mortgage lien attaches.
