Environmental liens are claims on a boat that has caused environmental damage. If a boat runs aground causing environmental damage (i.e. damage to coral reefs or sea grass), huge fines up to and in excess of $100,000 can be placed on the boat as environmental liens. Having environmental liens on the boat, Federal agents can seize it at any time until the payment has been settled.
If the past owner of a boat with an environmental lien does not pay their debt before selling you the boat, the payment of the debt is now on your hands. Under admiralty law, a boat is it’s own entity, therefore all fines, including environmental liens, are transferred with the boat not the registered owner.
