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 July 2004
NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Canons Court
22 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM 12
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
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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
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INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT
Attached hereto are copies of an earnings and dividend release issued by
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited (the "Company") on July 13, 2004,
announcing its second quarter earnings and third quarter dividend payment.
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.
Exhibit 1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd. (NAT) - (AMEX: NAT) (OSE: NAT) announces
results for 2nd quarter 2004.
As of 06/30/04 (first half of 2004) NAT had an operating profit of $22.7 million
as against $17.7 million during the same period last year. The net profit was
$21.8 million as against $16.8 million in the same period last year. The
increase in earnings in the first half of 2004 compared to the same period in
year 2003 is a result of tanker rates being stronger this year. The tanker
market during the 2nd quarter remained sound but was lower than the
exceptionally strong first quarter of 2004.
The results for the 2nd quarter of 2004 enable the Company to pay a 3rd quarter
2004 dividend of $0.88 per share. Including the dividend for the 3rd quarter of
2004, the total dividend paid so far in 2004 is $3.73 per share. The total
dividend paid in 2003 and 2002 were $3.05 and $1.35 per share, respectively. The
3rd quarter 2004 dividend of $0.88 will be paid on or about August 17th to
shareholders of record as of July 29th 2004. The next dividend payment will be
declared in October 2004.
The spot market for modern Suezmax tankers in the 2nd quarter of 2004 was above
the agreed minimum rate the NAT vessels have with the charterer BP Shipping. The
2nd quarter 2004 time charter (T/C) equivalent for the NAT vessels was $43,255
per day compared to $72,287 in the 1st quarter of 2004, $51,501 in the 4th
quarter and $23,243 in the 3rd quarter of 2003.
The contracts with BP Shipping commenced in October, 1997 and will terminate in
September/October this year (see below).
The quarterly $ per day T/C equivalent for the NAT vessels has since 1999 been
as follows:
Period 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1st Quarter 22,000 26,079 51,607 22,000 57,756 72,287*
2nd Quarter 22,000 33,701 35,088 22,000 38,291 43,255
3rd Quarter 22,000 48,153 28,668 22,000 23,243
4th Quarter 22,000 59,059 22,617 33,868 51,501
* corrected
NAT has 9,706,606 shares in issue.
The results as of June 30, 2004 compared to the same period last year and 2nd
quarter 2004, are as follows:
INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION
All figures in USD
01/01 - 06/30 01/01 - 06/30 2nd Qtr. 2nd Qtr.
2004 2003 2004 2003
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Revenue 26,901,886 21,432,128 9,488,001 8,132,941
Ship Broker Commissions (92,138) (91,631) (46,069) (46,069)
Management Fee Expense (125,000) (125,000) (62,500) (62,500)
Insurance Expense (53,332) (50,000) (26,666) (25,000)
Other Expenses (536,761) (85,001) (352,229) (24,964)
Depreciation (3,415,520) (3,415,520) (1,707,760) (1,707,760)
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Net Operating Income 22,679,135 17,664,976 7,292,777 6,266,648
Financial Income 27,559 11,695 15,325 6,782
Financial Expenses (882,205) (907,049) (437,949) (443,249)
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Net Financial Items (854,646) (895,354) (422,624) (436,467)
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Net Profit 21,824,489 16,769,622 6,870,153 5,830,181
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Earnings per Share 2.25 1.73 0.71 0.60
Cash Flow per Share 2.60 2.08 0.88 0.78
The quarterly dividend paid since the commencement in 1997 has been as follows:
Period 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
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1st Quarter 0.40 0.32 0.34 1.41 0.36 0.63 1.15
2nd Quarter 0.41 0.32 0.45 1.19 0.34 1.27 1.70
3rd Quarter 0.32 0.35 0.67 0.72 0.33 0.78 0.88
4th Quarter 0.30 0.30 0.36 1.10 0.55 0.32 0.37
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Total USD 0.30 1.43 1.35 2.56 3.87 1.35 3.05
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Balance sheet for Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd as of 30 June, 2004 and 31
December, 2003 (Figures in USD)
06/30/04 12/31/03
Vessels 124,666,405 128,081,925
Current assets 5,848,071 8,248,449
Cash deposits 681,297 565,924
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Total assets 131,195,773 136,896,298
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Shareholder's equity 101,018,446 106,857,976
Long term debt 30,000,000 30,000,000
Current liabilities 177,327 38,322
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Total liabilities & equity 131,195,773 136,896,298
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As previously announced by the Company, BP Shipping, the charterer of the
Company's 3 Suezmax tankers, has not delivered notice of exercise of its options
to extend the charters. Accordingly, the existing charters will terminate on
October 1, 2004, subject to a redelivery window for the vessels of between
September 1, 2004 and November 1, 2004. On May 10, 2004 the Company announced
that one of the Suezmax tankers has been fixed on a contract for a period of 5
years to Gulf Navigation.
At the Company's Special Meeting of Shareholders on March 15, 2004, the
Company's shareholders decided by vote of approximately 96% of those voting to
continue the Company in business. The restrictions on the Company's business
activities will expire on the termination of the BP charters. Following
termination of the restrictions, the Company will be free under its bye-laws to
conduct any business permitted by law on an unrestricted basis.
In the absence of the renewal by BP Shipping of its option for the 3 vessels,
the following alternatives are possible for the two remaining Suezmax tankers:
o The renegotiation by the Company and BP Shipping of two of the
charters or employment of the tankers to other parties.
o The employment by the Company of the 2 vessels in the spot market upon
expiration of the present BP charters.
o Any combination of these alternatives.
July 13, 2004
Contacts: Gary J. Wolfe
Seward & Kissel, New York, USA
Tel: (1) 212 574 1223
Scandic American Shipping Ltd (www.scandicamerican.com)
P.O Box 56
3201 Sandefjord
Norway
Tel: + 47 33 44 61 40, or +47 901 46 291,
e-mail: nat@scandicamerican.com or
Rolf Amundsen
Amundsen Partners, Oslo, Norway
Tel: + 47 908 26 906
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd (www.nat.bm)
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: July 13, 2004 By:/s/ Herbjorn Hansson
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Herbjorn Hansson
President and
Chief Executive Officer
01318.0002 #499140v2