MARAD APPROVES TRANSFER OF 8 LNG CARRIERS TO MARSHALL REGISTRY

   Maritime Administrator Clyde Hart reluctantly agreed to allow eight
Liquified Natural Gas carriers to be transferred to the Marshall Islands
ship registry.
   "This has been one of the most difficult issues I have had to confront
since becoming Maritime Administrator," Hart said. "I reluctantly made this determination after consulting with appropriate agencies. They have advised and confirmed there is no military necessity for these ships to operate under U.S. registry; the volume of LNG in the U.S. foreign commerce does not require their retention; nor do foreign policy considerations."
   Hart set conditions for the transfer. Nearly all the jobs on the ships
will be held by U.S. seafarers for five years, and any further changes in
registry or operation under foreign authority may be carried out only with
MarAd’s approval.
   The vessels are used in the foreign-foreign trade transporting LNG from Indonesia to Japan. They are owned by the Wilmington Trust Co. and the United States Trust Co.