TROPICAL SHIPPING SEES DIP IN FIRST-QUARTER EARNINGS

TROPICAL SHIPPING SEES DIP IN FIRST-QUARTER EARNINGS

   Tropical Shipping reported a 31-percent drop in earnings for the first
quarter of 1999.
   The Riviera Beach, Fla. subsidiary of Nicor Inc. reported operating
income of $4.4 million down from $6.4 million for the year earlier period.
Revenues declined to $53.8 million from $55.1 million.
   A 4-percent increase in shipping volumes was more than offset by lower
averages prices resulting from increased competition in some markets and
lower charter revenues, Tropical said.