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 October 2005
NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Reid House
31 Church Street
Hamilton HM FX
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 as Exhibit 1 is a copy of a press release dated October 18,
2005 announcing that Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited's (the "Company")
Registration Statement (File No. 333-128606) relating to its Dividend Reinvest-
ment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan has been declared effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Exhibit 1
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd. (NAT) - (NYSE: NAT) Announces
Establishment of Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan
Hamilton, Bermuda, October 18, 2005
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd. (the "Company") today announced that the
Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective the Company's
registration statement for a Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase
Plan. Under the Plan, existing shareholders will be able to purchase additional
shares by reinvesting all or a portion of the dividends that they receive from
the Company. The minimum investment for existing shareholders will be $50. In
addition, new investors will be able to join the Plan by making an initial
investment of at least $250. Mellon Bank N.A. will act as Plan Administrator.
The Company is an international tanker company that owns seven modern
double-hull Suezmax tankers. The Company expects to take delivery in November
2005 of an additional Suezmax tanker that it has agreed to purchase.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in
which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any state.
The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies
of the prospectus relating to the Plan may be obtained from Mellon Bank N.A.,
Newport Office Center VII, 480 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310, and from
the Company.
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," "anticipate," "intend," "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. We undertake no obligation to update
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
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 charter 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 our operating expenses, including
bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our 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, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other
important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the prospectus,
our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and our reports on Form 6-K.
Contacts:
Scandic American Shipping Ltd
Manager for:
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd.
P.O Box 56, 3201 Sandefjord, Norway
Tel: + 47 33 42 73 00 E-mail: nat@scandicamerican.com
Web-site: www.nat.bm
Rolf Amundsen
Chief Financial Officer
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd.
Tel: +1 800 601 9079 or + 47 908 26 906
HerbjOrn Hansson
Chairman & CEO
Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd.
Tel: +1 866 805 9504 or + 47 901 46 291
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: October 31, 2005 By: /s/ HerbjOrn Hansson
---------------------------
HerbjOrn Hansson
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and President