Maritime Liens: Creation, Enforcement, and Priority

This CLE webinar will review the creation, priority, and enforcement of maritime liens in U.S. courts, including the Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens Act.

Maritime liens are inevitable for vessels operating in commerce. The liens arise from preferred ship mortgages, crew wages and “necessaries,” vessel repair and salvage, collisions and allisions, personal injury claims, property damage, and more. Maritime liens are a concern for a variety of interested parties, including owners, charterers, operators, lenders, joint venturers, insurers, brokers, consignees, shippers, marine contractors, brokers, and others. 

While modern vessels may present attractive financing opportunities, lenders must carefully examine all interests related to the buying and selling of any vessel to be sure all liens have been removed. This is particularly important as shipping routes and conditions become uncertain, dangerous, and volatile, and unexpected obligations can arise at any time.

Listen as this panel of maritime lien experts offers practical tips related to the creation, priority, and enforcement of maritime liens.