((a)) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person providing necessaries to a vessel on the order of the owner or a person authorized by the owner—

((1)) has a maritime lien on the vessel;

((2)) may bring a civil action in rem to enforce the lien; and

((3)) is not required to allege or prove in the action that credit was given to the vessel.

((b)) This section does not apply to a public vessel.