U.S. Department of Transportation

Office of Public Affairs

Washington, D.C.

www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

News

Press Book

B06—011

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has given approval to Gemstar Trading Inc., of Jacksonville, Florida, to sell the tank ship CHELSA to Grand International Shipping Co., a Liberia corporation, and transfer of said vessel to Mongolia registry and flag for scrapping in India.

Built in 1975 by National Steel & Shipbuilding Co., of San Diego, CA, the tank ship has a gross weight of 22, 357 gross tons and a 39, 675 deadweight tonnage.

MARAD has given approval to Veritas Geophysical Corporation of Houston, Texas, for the sale of the offshore tug and supply vessel R/V VERITAS SEARCHER, to Halani International Ltd., a St. Vincent and the Grenadines corporation, and the transfer of said vessel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines registry and flag.

The offshore tug was built by W-Kaiser Co., Inc. in 1945.

MARAD has also given approval to ENSCO Offshore Company, of Dallas, Texas for the transfer of the mobile offshore drilling unit ENSCO 84, to the Republic of Liberia registry and flag without change in the ownership of said vessel.

The offshore unit has a gross tonnage of 4,899 tons.

MARAD's approval is required under section 9 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended.