U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

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PRESS BOOK

May 31, 2005

Page 1 of 1

B05-015

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved two applications under

Section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended.

Ø Oglebay Norton Marine Services Company, LLC, Cleveland, OH has received approval to sell the 9,589-gross-ton cargo vessel JOSEPH H. FRANTZ to International Marine Salvage, Inc., a Canadian corporation, for scrapping in Canada.

The vessel was built in 1924 in River Rouge, MI.

Ø Vane Line Bunkering, Inc., Baltimore, MD, has received approval to sell the 2,674-gross-ton tank barge, VB 40 to Porteadoes del Noroeste S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Mexican registry and flag.

The vessel was built in 1970 in Houston, TX.