8. Intervenors.—
All persons legally interested in a ship are entitled to appear and be heard by the court when she is in the custody of a court of admiralty. Such are parties having other maritime liens upon her and mortgagees. Their claims are presented, pursuant to the public notice given by the marshal, by intervening libels or petitions and they are called intervenors. The form of such petitions is substantially like that of an original libel. Generally when an owner will not bond his ship, she has become heavily in debt and all her creditors will be obliged to intervene in the proceeding in order to protect their accounts. A sale is accomplished and the proceeds brought into court as soon as possible. Distribution is then made between the various lienors according to their rank and priority. Any surplus will belong to the owner and he may obtain it at any time before it is covered into the Treasury of the United States as unclaimed funds.