who provided maritime services to the vessel or who suffered an injury from the vessel's use. Maritime liens are sometimes referred to as tacit hypothecation. Maritime liens have little in common with other liens under the laws of most jurisdictions. The maritime lien has been described as "one of the most striking peculiarities of Admiralty law". A maritime lien constitutes a security interest upon ships of a nature otherwise unknown to the common law or equity. It arises purely by operation of law and exists as a claim upon the property concerned, both secret and invisible, often given priority by statute over other forms of registered security interest. Although characteristics vary under the laws of different countries, it can be described as: a privileged claim, upon maritime property, for service to it or damage done by it, accruing from the moment that the claim attaches, travelling with the property unconditionally, enforced by an action in rem. Nomenclature Throughout the world, there are a large number of different types and sub-divisions of liens. Not all of the following liens exist in all legal systems that recognise the concept of a lien. The following are descriptions that are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Types of lien include accountant's lien—the right of an accountant to retain a client's papers until the accountant's fees have been paid. agent's lien agister's lien—the lien of an agister over animals in the agister's care as security for fees. agricultural lien (United States)—a statutory lien that protects the seller of farming equipment by giving the seller a lien on crops grown with the equipment. architect's lien—the right of an architect to retain a client's papers until the architect's fees have been paid. attachment lien—a lien on property seized by pre-judgment attachment. attorney's lien—the right of an attorney to retain a client's papers until the attorney's fees have been paid (also referred to as a charging lien, solicitor's lien or a retaining lien in some jurisdictions). banker's lien—the right of a bank to satisfy a customer's matured debt by seizing the customer's money or property within the bank's possession. blanket lien—a lien that gives the lienor the entitlement to take possession of any or all of the lienee's real property to cover a delinquent loan. carrier's lien—a carrier's right to retain possession of cargo until the owner of the cargo pays shipping costs. choate lien (United States)—a lien in which