Who has a lien under CA Lien Law?

• A. Every licensee of space has a lien.
• B. The harbor master has a lien.
• C. Only the legal owner has a lien.
• D. Every person in possession of the vessel has a lien.

Answer: (D)

A lien under California Lien Law is created when someone who furnishes labor, materials, or services to a vessel is in possession of that vessel. The lien attaches to the vessel as security for the value of what was supplied, and it applies while the vessel is in the possession of the person who provided the goods or services.

Because of this, any person who is in possession of the vessel and has supplied labor or materials has a lien. Ownership or status as harbor master isn’t what creates the lien; it’s the act of furnishing services and having possession. That’s why the correct answer is that every person in possession of the vessel has a lien.

If someone merely licenses space or otherwise holds the vessel without having provided services or materials, they wouldn’t automatically have a lien simply from possession. The key idea is possession plus value-contributing work or goods.