Preference of lien

Ships and vessels of all kinds built, repaired, fitted, furnished and supplied with necessities for navigation within this State, shall be subject to a lien for all debts contracted by the builders, owners, master, agents or consignees thereof for work done or materials and supplies found or provided in the building, repairing, fitting, furnishing, supplying or equipping of the same in preference to any other debt due from the builders, masters, owners, agents or consignees thereof, except for salvage, and such debts shall be a lien upon the ship or vessel in the same manner as if the work had been done or the materials or supplies had been furnished outside of this State and in a port foreign to the home port of the ship or vessel.