FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of March 2004 NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED (Translation of registrant's name into English) Cedar House 41 Cedar Avenue Hamilton HMEX Bermuda (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F X Form 40-F -------- -------- Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes No X ----- ----- INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT Attached hereto is a copy of a press release issued by Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited (the "Company") today, March 15, 2004. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BP Plc files annual reports on Form 20-F (File No. 1-6262) and periodic reports on Form 6-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hamilton, Bermuda, March 15, 2004: Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited (AMEX:NAT, OSE:NAT) today announced that based on preliminary results, its shareholders have overwhelmingly voted to keep the Company in business. The restrictions in its bye-laws will be lifted automatically on expiration of the BP Charters on or about October 1, 2004. Contact: Gary J. Wolfe Seward & Kissel LLP Tel. 212-574-1223 Rolf Amundsen, Esq. Amundsen & Partners AS 011-47-90-82-69-06 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "except," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charterhire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and world wide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Company's vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED (registrant) Dated: March 15, 2004 By:/s/ Herbjorn Hansson ---------------------------- Herbjorn Hansson President and Chief Executive Officer 01318.0002 #471199