MARINE TRANSPORT CORP
DEF 14A, 1999-04-20
DEEP SEA FOREIGN TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT
Previous: AMERITECH CORP /DE/, 8-K, 1999-04-20
Next: ACXIOM CORP, S-4/A, 1999-04-20



<PAGE>   1
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14a-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Filed by the Registrant [X]
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement               [ ]  Confidential, for use of the Commission
                                               only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
    
 
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
[X]  No fee required.
 
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
 
     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 
   
    
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (5)  Total fee paid:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
 
[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (3)  Filing party:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     (4)  Date filed:
 
   
                                     April 8, 1999
    
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
                            [MARINE TRANSPORT LOGO]
 
   
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
    
 
   
                                                                   April 8, 1999
    
 
Dear Stockholder:
 
   
     You are cordially invited to attend the 1999 annual meeting of the
stockholders of Marine Transport Corporation to be held at the Model Room of The
New York Yacht Club located at 37 West 44th Street, New York, New York, on
Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at 9:00 in the morning. Matters to be considered and acted
upon by our stockholders include the election of directors, ratification of the
appointment of the certified public accountants of Marine Transport Corporation,
approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of Marine Transport Corporation by which the number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors would not be less than five nor more than
fifteen and approval of certain amendments to the Marine Transport Corporation
1998 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors and the Marine Transport
Corporation 1998 Incentive Equity Plan. These matters and the procedures for
voting your shares are discussed in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting
and Proxy Statement.
    
 
     The vote of every stockholder is important regardless of the number of
shares owned. Accordingly, your prompt cooperation in signing, dating, and
mailing the enclosed proxy will be appreciated.
 
                                              Sincerely,
 
                                              [paste up signature]
                                              RICHARD T. DU MOULIN
   
                                              Chairman of the Board of
                                              Directors,
    
   
                                              Chief Executive Officer and
                                              President
    
   
    
<PAGE>   3
 
   
                                         IMPORTANT
PLEASE DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT AT YOUR EARLIEST
CONVENIENCE IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED, ADDRESSED ENVELOPE SO THAT IF YOU ARE
UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING YOUR SHARES MAY NEVERTHELESS BE VOTED.
    
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
   
                             TO BE HELD MAY 4, 1999
    
 
   
     NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Marine
Transport Corporation will be held in the Model Room of The New York Yacht Club
located at 37 West 44th Street, New York, New York, on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at
9:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Savings Time), for the following purposes:
    
 
     (1) To elect four directors (Class I) for a three-year term, each to hold
         office until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified (the
         election of Mr. Brent D. Baird to Class I is contingent upon the
         approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation of the Company by which the number of directors
         constituting the Board of Directors would not be less than five nor
         more than fifteen (as opposed to five, seven or nine));
 
     (2) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors of the
         Company and various subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 1999;
 
     (3) To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation of the Company by which the number of directors
         constituting the Board of Directors would not be less than five nor
         more than fifteen (as opposed to five, seven or nine) WHICH AMENDMENT
         REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF 80% OR MORE OF THE
         OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY;
 
     (4) To increase the shares of common stock which may used for awards under
         the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan For Non-Employee Directors from
         100,000 shares to 150,000 shares;
 
     (5) To increase the shares of common stock which may be used for awards
         under the Company's 1998 Incentive Equity Plan from 550,000 shares to
         825,000 shares and to make certain other amendments to such plan; and
 
     (6) To consider and act on such other business as may properly come before
         the meeting.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 1, 1999 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the meeting.
 
     A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be
available at the offices of Marine Transport Corporation, 1200 Harbor Boulevard,
Weehawken, New Jersey, at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
 
                                              By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                              [paste up signature]
                                              PETER N. POPOV
                                              Secretary
 
Weehawken, New Jersey
   
April 8, 1999
    
<PAGE>   4
 
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
                             1200 Harbor Boulevard
                        Weehawken, New Jersey 07087-0901
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
   
     The following statement is submitted to stockholders to solicit proxies for
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Marine Transport Corporation (the
"Company") to be held on May 4, 1999. This proxy is being mailed to holders of
record on or about April 8, 1999, concurrently with the Company's 1998 Annual
Report. The Company's corporate headquarters are located at 1200 Harbor
Boulevard, Weehawken, New Jersey 07087-0901 but the Annual Meeting will be held
in the Model Room of The New York Yacht Club located at 37 West 44th Street, New
York, New York. A proxy for this meeting is enclosed.
    
 
     The purposes of the meeting are:
 
     (1) To elect four directors (Class I) for a three-year term, each to hold
         office until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified (the
         election of Mr. Brent D. Baird to Class I is contingent upon the
         approval of an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation of the Company by which the number of directors
         constituting the Board of Directors would not be less than five nor
         more than fifteen (as opposed to five, seven or nine));
 
     (2) To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors of the
         Company and various subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 1999;
 
     (3) To approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation of the Company by which the number of directors
         constituting the Board of Directors would not be less than five nor
         more than fifteen (as opposed to five, seven or nine) WHICH AMENDMENT
         REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF 80% OR MORE OF THE
         OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY;
 
     (4) To increase the shares of common stock which may be used for awards
         under the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan For Non-Employee Directors
         from 100,000 shares to 150,000 shares;
 
     (5) To increase the shares of common stock which may be used for awards
         under the Company's 1998 Incentive Equity Plan from 550,000 shares to
         825,000 shares and to make certain other amendments to such plan; and
 
     (6) To consider and act on such other business as may properly come before
         the meeting.
 
     The solicitation of the proxy enclosed with this Proxy Statement is made by
and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company. The cost of this
solicitation will be paid by the Company. Such costs include preparation,
printing and mailing of the Notice of Annual Meeting, form of proxy and this
Proxy Statement. The solicitation will be conducted principally by mail,
although directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries
(at no additional compensation) may solicit proxies personally or by telephone
and telegram. Arrangements will be made with brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for proxy material to be sent to their
principals and the Company will reimburse such persons for their expenses in so
doing.
<PAGE>   5
 
   
     The shares represented by all valid proxies in the enclosed form will be
voted if received in time for the meeting and voted in accordance with the
specifications, if any, made on the proxy. If no specification is made, the
proxies will be voted FOR the nominees for directors, FOR the ratification of
the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors and FOR the amendments to the:
(a) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; (b) 1998 Stock Option
Plan for Non-Employee Directors; and (c) 1998 Incentive Equity Plan. A proxy is
revocable at any time prior to being voted by giving written notice to the
Secretary of the Company or by attending the meeting and voting in person.
    
 
                CERTAIN BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONCERNING MARINE
        TRANSPORT CORPORATION, ITS DIRECTORS AND ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
   
     During 1998, in connection with the transactions described below, the
Company changed its name from OMI Corp. to Marine Transport Corporation.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Acquisition Agreement dated as of
September 15, 1997 by and among the Company, Universal Bulk Carriers, Inc. (a
former subsidiary of the Company), Marine Transport Lines, Inc. ("MTL") and
certain shareholders of MTL, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common
stock of MTL on or about June 17, 1998 (the "Acquisition"). As partial
consideration for the Acquisition, MTL shareholders were issued shares of the
common stock of the Company. (See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management.") Contemporaneously with the Acquisition, the Company
separated its foreign and domestic shipping operations and transferred the
assets, liabilities and operations of its foreign business to a newly created
corporation ("New OMI"). As a result of these transactions: (a) the stockholders
of the Company became stockholders of two separate publicly traded companies,
the Company and New OMI, which was named OMI Corporation; (b) the Company became
an entity consisting of the Company's domestic shipping assets, liabilities and
operations and certain assets, liabilities and operations of MTL; (c) New OMI
became an entity consisting of the Company's international shipping assets,
liabilities and operations; (d) the management of the Company was assumed by
certain officers and directors of MTL (as well as certain newly elected
directors); and (e) the management of New OMI was assumed by certain of the
Company's officers and directors of the Company who served in that capacity
prior to the Acquisition.
    
 
                      VOTING SECURITIES AND VOTES REQUIRED
 
     As of April 1, 1999, the record date for the meeting, the Company had
outstanding 6,555,368 shares of common stock, par value $.50 per share (the
"Common Stock"). Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all
matters to come before the meeting, including the election of directors. A
majority of the outstanding shares of common stock, represented in person or by
proxy, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual
Meeting, except with respect to the proposal to amend the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation. A stockholder who abstains from voting on
any or all proposals will be included in the number of stockholders present at
the meeting for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. Brokers who
hold shares for the account of their clients may vote such shares either as
directed by their clients or in their own discretion if permitted by the
exchange or other organization of which they are members.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   6
 
     The election of each nominee for director requires a plurality of votes of
the holders of the shares of common stock cast in the election of directors. The
proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% or more of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. The proposals to amend the
1998 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors and 1998 Incentive Equity
Plan, and ratify the appointment of auditors require the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or
represented by a proxy at the meeting. Broker non-votes will not be treated as
votes cast with respect to any matter presented at the Annual Meeting and
abstentions will be treated as negative votes on all matters other than election
of directors, in which case they will not be counted either in favor of or
against the election of the nominee.
 
         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     The following table sets forth, as of April 1, 1999, certain information
with respect to (i) each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner
of more than five percent (5%) of the Company's common stock, which is the only
class of outstanding voting securities, (ii) each director and nominee for
director, (iii) each executive officer and (iv) all directors and all executive
officers as a group:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF                       AMOUNT AND NATURE OF      PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER                         BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1)      CLASS
- -------------------                      -----------------------    ----------
<S>                                      <C>                        <C>
Brent D. Baird.........................           875,500              13.3%
  1350 One M&T Plaza
  Buffalo, New York(2)
Harrowston Corporation.................           535,743               8.1%
  Suite 3280
  P.O. Box 753
  181 Bay Street
  Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
  Canada
Kenneth E. Jones.......................           404,678               6.1%
  Seahawk Ranch
  22495 Cabrillo Highway
  Half Moon Bay, California 94019(3)
DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES
Richard T. du Moulin...................           644,724               9.7%
Paul B. Gridley........................           378,071               5.1%
Mark L. Filanowski.....................           165,236               2.5%
Jerome Shelby..........................            80,361               1.2%
William M. Kearns, Jr..................            20,089              *
Stanley Rich(4)........................            11,848              *
Michael Klebanoff......................            26,973              *
Jonathan Blank.........................            10,400              *
Elaine L. Chao.........................             2,000              *
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   7
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF                       AMOUNT AND NATURE OF      PERCENT OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER                         BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1)      CLASS
- -------------------                      -----------------------    ----------
<S>                                      <C>                        <C>
NON-DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Peter N. Popov.........................            13,336              *
Jeffrey M. Miller......................            11,447              *
All directors and executive officers as         1,370,214                20%
  a group(11)..........................
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
   
 *  Represents holdings of less than 1% (one percent)
    
 
(1) Includes all shares with respect to which each person, executive officer,
    director or nominee for director, directly or indirectly, through any
    contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or
    shares the power to vote or to direct voting of such shares or to dispose or
    to direct the disposition of such shares. With respect to executive
    officers, includes shares that may be purchased under currently exercisable
    stock options granted pursuant to the Marine Transport Corporation 1998
    Incentive Equity Plan. (Under the terms of that plan, no options granted
    pursuant thereto are currently exercisable.) With respect to non employee
    directors, includes shares that may be purchased under currently exercisable
    stock options granted pursuant to the Marine Transport Corporation 1998
    Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. (Under the terms of that plan,
    no stock options granted pursuant thereto are currently exercisable.)
 
(2) Includes 30,000 shares owned by Aries Hill Corp., a private holding company
    with an address at 1350 One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York 14203, of which Mr.
    Baird is a director, President and Treasurer (Mr. Baird has shared voting
    power and shared investment power with regard to these shares); 25,000
    shares owned by Mr. Baird; 50,000 shares owned by Mr. Brian D. Baird, Mr.
    Baird's brother, in his capacity as Successor Trustee under an agreement
    dated 7/31/22; 70,500 shares owned by The Cameron Baird Foundation, a
    charitable private foundation with an address at Box 564, Hamburg, New York
    14075, whose board consists of members of Mr. Baird's family; and 549,710
    shares owned by First Carolina Investors, Inc. ("FCI"), a closed end
    non-diversified management investment company with an address at 1130 East
    3rd Street, Suite 1410, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204, of which Mr. Baird
    is Chairman and Director (Mr. Baird has shared voting power and shared
    investment power with regard to these shares). When aggregated with the
    beneficial interests in FCI common stock of their spouses, children,
    parents, siblings and various corporations, trusts and other entities
    associated with the Baird family, the family's cumulative ownership of FCI's
    outstanding common stock is approximately 55%.
 
(3) Includes 2,000 shares owned by the Joanne Lauridsen Trust of which Mr. Jones
    is a trustee; 326,666 shares owned by the Seahawk Investment Trust of which
    Mr. Jones and his wife are trustees; and 73,334 shares owned by the Seahawk
    Ranch Irrevocable Trust of which Mr. Jones is a trustee. In her capacity as
    a trustee of the Seahawk Ranch Irrevocable Trust, Mr. Jones' wife Signed Kim
    Lauridsen-Jones shares voting and investment power with regard to 326,666
    shares.
 
(4) Includes 1,000 shares purchased for Mr. Rich's granddaughter in the name of
    her mother as custodian.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   8
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws provide
that the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors of the
Company shall be five, seven or nine divided into three classes, as nearly equal
in number as the then total number of directors constituting the entire Board of
Directors permits. The Board currently consists of nine (9) members divided into
three classes. The directors in each class hold office for staggered terms of
three years. The three current Class I directors, Jonathan Blank, Mark L.
Filanowski and Stanley B. Rich, whose present terms expire in 1999, are being
proposed for reelection for new three year terms (expiring in 2002) at this
Annual Meeting. The Board has also nominated Brent D. Baird to become a member
of Class I for election to a three year term to run concurrently with the term
of the three incumbent directors. Mr. Baird's election to Class I is, however,
contingent upon the approval of an amendment (the "Amendment") to the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation by which the number of
directors constituting the Board of Directors would be not less than five or
more than fifteen (as opposed to five, seven or nine). In the event that the
Amendment is not approved, Class I will not be large enough to accommodate
election of the incumbent Class I directors and the election of Mr. Baird, in
which case Mr. Baird will not be elected to Class I. APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT
REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF 80% OR MORE OF THE OUTSTANDING
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY.
 
     All nominees for Class I are willing to serve as directors, but if any
nominee becomes unable to serve prior to the Annual Meeting, the persons named
as proxies have discretionary authority to vote for a substitute nominee named
by the Board of Directors, or the Board of Directors may reduce the number of
directors to be determined and elected.
 
     The Board of Directors recommends a vote in favor of the election of the
nominees for directors to Class I.
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the members of
and nominees for the Board of Directors:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 CLASS AND
                                    YEAR
NAME AND OTHER                    IN WHICH            PRINCIPAL           FIRST BECAME
INFORMATION              AGE    TERM EXPIRES         OCCUPATION            A DIRECTOR
- --------------           ---   --------------  -----------------------    ------------
<S>                      <C>   <C>             <C>                        <C>
                   NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AT THE 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
Brent D. Baird.........  60                    Private Investor
Jonathan Blank.........  55       Class I      Partner, Preston Gates       06/15/98
                                   (1999)      Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds
Mark L. Filanowski.....  44       Class I      Senior Vice President,       06/15/98
                                   (1999)      Treasurer and Chief
                                               Financial Officer,
                                               Marine Transport
                                               Corporation
Stanley B. Rich........  75       Class I      Independent Accountant       06/15/98
                                   (1999)
</TABLE>
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   9
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 CLASS AND
                                    YEAR
NAME AND OTHER                    IN WHICH            PRINCIPAL           FIRST BECAME
INFORMATION              AGE    TERM EXPIRES         OCCUPATION            A DIRECTOR
- --------------           ---   --------------  -----------------------    ------------
<S>                      <C>   <C>             <C>                        <C>
                            DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS CONTINUE
Paul B. Gridley........  46       Class II     Consultant to Marine         06/15/98
                                   (2000)      Transport Corporation
William M. Kearns,       63       Class II     Vice Chairman, Keefe         06/15/98
  Jr...................            (2000)      Managers, Inc. and
                                               President, W.M. Kearns
                                               & Co., Inc.
Michael Klebanoff......  78       Class II     Private Investor And        01/29/69*
                                   (2000)      Director of OMI
                                               Corporation
Elaine L. Chao.........  46      Class III     Distinguished Fellow,        06/15/98
                                   (2001)      The Heritage Foundation
                                               and Chairman of its
                                               Asia Adversary Council
Richard T. du Moulin...  52      Class III     Chairman of the Board,       06/15/98
                                   (2001)      President and Chief
                                               Executive Officer,
                                               Marine Transport
                                               Corporation
Jerome Shelby..........  69      Class III     Of Counsel, Cadwalader,      06/15/98
                                   (2001)      Wickersham & Taft
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
   
* Mr. Klebanoff was a director of the Company prior to the Acquisition and
  related transactions. (See "Certain Background Information Concerning Marine
  Transport Corporation, its Directors and its Executive Officers.")
    
 
                 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF
                DIRECTORS AND NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     During 1998, there were four Board of Directors meetings of the Company,
three of which were held after the Acquisition. Messrs. Rich, Filanowski and
Blank, incumbent directors being nominated for reelection, attended all of the
meetings of the Board held during the period for which each has been a director.
 
     The Audit Committee, which consists of Messrs. Rich and Blank, recommends
to the Board the auditors to be appointed for the Company, reviews the results
of each year's audit, evaluates any recommendations the auditors may propose
concerning the Company's internal controls and procedures and oversees the
responses made to any such recommendations.
 
     The Compensation Committee, which consists of Messrs. Kearns, Shelby and
Rich, reviews and determines the compensation of the Company's executives. In
1998, the Audit Committee met two times for the purpose of reviewing audit
procedures and inquiring into financial, legal, and other matters, and the
Compensation Committee met three times for the purpose of reviewing overall
compensation and employee benefit practices and programs. The Company does not
have a nominating or similar committee.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   10
 
                            THE NOMINEES TO CLASS I
 
     MR. BAIRD is a private investor and a member of the boards of directors of
Barrister Information Systems Corporation, M&T Bank Corporation, First Carolina
Investors, Inc., Ecology & Environment, Inc., Ogleby Norton Corporation,
Exolon -- ESK, Inc., Todd Shipyards Corporation and Merchants Group, Inc. Mr.
Baird was a major shareholder of Marine Transport Lines, Inc. ("MTL"), currently
a subsidiary of the Company, and served on MTL's board of directors from 1986
until 1989 when MTL was a public company. Mr. Baird was selected to be a nominee
to Class I because of his experience and knowledge of U.S.-based shipping.
 
     MR. BLANK has experience in maritime issues, especially those affecting
U.S. flag vessels, and has been a partner with Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas
Meeds since prior to 1994.
 
   
     MR. FILANOWSKI has been Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer of the Company since June, 1998. Prior thereto he was Senior Vice
President of MTL since November 1989 serving as MTL's head of operations and
ship management since 1994 and as chief financial officer from 1989 to 1994.
From 1984 to 1988, Mr. Filanowski served as Vice President and Controller of
Armtek Corporation, and from 1976 to 1984 he served as Audit and Tax Manager for
Ernst & Young. Mr. Filanowski is a director of Shoreline Mutual (Bermuda), Ltd.,
a mutual insurance company that provides guarantees to the U.S. Coast Guard on
behalf of the insurance company's members (including the Company) to enable them
to be issued Certificates of Financial Responsibility under the Oil Pollution
Act of 1990.
    
 
     MR. RICH has been a practicing accountant for over 50 years and served as
an advisor to MTL's board of directors from 1993 until 1998 and from 1989 to
1993 was a member of MTL's Board of Directors. Mr. Rich is a retired director of
Fleet Bank.
 
                            THE MEMBERS OF CLASS II
 
   
     MR. GRIDLEY is a consultant to the Company. Mr. Gridley was the President
and Vice Chairman of MTL from November 1989 until June 18, 1998. Prior to that
time, Mr. Gridley was employed as a Senior Vice President of Shearson Lehman
Hutton, Inc. in the Investment Banking Division where he was responsible for
ship financing.
    
 
   
     MR. KEARNS formed W.M. Kearns & Co., Inc., a private investment company,
where he has served as President since July 1994. From 1969 to June 1994, Mr.
Kearns was a Managing Director of Lehman Brothers and its predecessor firms. Mr.
Kearns served as an advisor to MTL's board of directors from 1993 until 1998 and
from 1989 to 1993 was a member of MTL's Board of Directors. Mr. Kearns is a
director of Selective Insurance Group, Inc., Kuhlman Corporation, Malibu
Entertainment Worldwide, Inc., Fundamental Management Corporation and Greenfield
Capital Partners, Inc.; a trustee of EQ Advisors Trust (The Equitable Life
Assurance Society of the United States); and a senior advisor of Proudfoot PLC.
He has been the Vice Chairman of Keefe Managers, Inc. since December of 1998.
    
 
     MR. KLEBANOFF is a private investor who founded the predecessor of the
Company. From 1983 to 1995, Mr. Klebanoff was Chairman of the Board of the
Company, and from 1969 to 1983 he was President of the Company. He is a
currently a member of the board of directors of OMI Corporation.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   11
 
                            THE MEMBERS OF CLASS III
 
     MS. CHAO has been a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation since
August 1996 where she is also chairman of its Asia Advisory Council. From 1992
to 1996, Ms. Chao was president and chief executive officer of United Way of
America. Prior to joining United Way of America, she was director of the Peace
Corps and prior thereto was deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of
Transportation. In 1988 and 1989, Ms. Chao was the chairman of the Federal
Maritime Commission. From 1986 to 1988, she served as deputy administrator of
the Maritime Administration. Ms. Chao is a director of Dole Food Co., Inc.,
Vencor, Inc., Protective Life Corp. and NASD, Inc.
 
     MR. DU MOULIN has been Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of
the Company since June 1998. Prior thereto he was Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of MTL since November 1989. Prior to joining MTL, Mr. du Moulin was
employed at the Company, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer
and was a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. du Moulin served three years as
a U.S. Navy officer and thereafter continued to serve on the Fales Advisory
Committee to the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. He is presently
Chairman of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners
(INTERTANKO), Chairman of the North American Regional Council for the American
Bureau of Shipping and is on the Board of Seamens Church Institute of New York
and New Jersey.
 
   
     MR. SHELBY has been of counsel to the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham &
Taft since 1993, where Mr. Shelby was a partner from 1963 through 1992.
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft has acted as counsel to the Company and, from time
to time since 1958, provided legal services to MTL. Mr. Shelby served as an
advisor to MTL's board of directors from 1993 until 1998 and from 1989 to 1993
was a member of MTL's Board of Directors. He is also a director of Astro Tankers
Limited, an oil tanker owner, and is a director and executive vice president of
Energy Transportation Group, Inc., a shipping and energy company and is on the
board of Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey.
    
 
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
 
     Paul B. Gridley, a member of Class II of the Company's Board of Directors,
is party to a consulting agreement with the Company pursuant to which, for two
years commencing on or about June 18, 1998, he will perform consulting services
for the Company for $189,000 per year.
 
     Jonathan Blank, a member of Class I of the Company's Board of Directors, is
also a member of the law firm of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds LLP
("Preston Gates"). The Company retained Preston Gates during its last fiscal
year and proposes to retain Preston Gates during the current fiscal year.
 
   
     Jerome Shelby, a member of Class III of the Company's Board of Directors,
is also of counsel to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft ("Cadwalader"). The Company
retained Cadwalader during its last fiscal year and proposes to retain
Cadwalader during the current fiscal year.
    
 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
 
     Directors who are also officers or employees of the Company do not receive
any fees or remuneration for services on the Board of Directors or of any
Committee thereof. Commencing on or about June 18, 1998, each member of the
board of directors of the
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   12
 
Company who is not an employee of the Company became entitled to an annual
retainer of $15,000 and a fee of $1,500 per board (or committee) meeting
attended.
 
     Non-employee directors also participate in the Marine Transport Corporation
1998 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors. Under such plan, each
non-employee director was automatically granted options to acquire 7,500 shares
of the Company's common stock.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
   
     The Summary Compensation Table shows the compensation for: (a) each of the
Company's Chief Executive Officer and two additional officers of the Company for
the approximately two and one half year period prior to the Acquisition; and (b)
each of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and three other Executive Officers
of the Company for the approximately one half year period since the Acquisition
(the "named executive officers").
    
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             LONG TERM
                                     ANNUAL COMPENSATION                COMPENSATION AWARDS
                          -----------------------------------------   ------------------------
                                                          OTHER       RESTRICTED    SECURITIES
                                                          ANNUAL        STOCK       UNDERLYING    ALL OTHER
NAME AND                                               COMPENSATION     AWARDS       OPTIONS/    COMPENSATION
PRINCIPAL POSITION        YEAR  SALARY($)   BONUS($)       ($)          ($)(1)      SARS(#)(2)      ($)(3)
- ------------------        ----  ---------   --------   ------------   ----------    ----------   ------------
<S>                       <C>   <C>         <C>        <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>
Craig H. Stevenson......  1998   184,027    1,052,500                                               38,252
  Former President        1997   380,000     123,750           0       459,375(5)                   32,985
  and Chief Executive     1996   300,000           0           0             0             0        18,714
  Officer(4)
Vincent J. de Sostoa....  1998   121,107     531,250                                                42,735
  Former Senior Vice      1997   240,000      66,000           0             0             0        21,533
  President, Chief        1996   231,750           0           0             0             0        20,516
  Financial Officer and
  Treasurer(4)
Robert Bugbee...........  1998   128,677     531,250                                                43,228
  Former Senior           1997   250,000      66,000           0             0        10,000        19,402
  Vice President(4)       1996   206,000           0      97,500             0             0        20,521
Richard T. du Moulin....  1998   157,716      30,000(7)         0            0        25,000             0
  President and Chief
  Executive Officer(6)
Mark L. Filanowski......  1998   120,288      20,000(7)         0            0        25,000             0
  Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial
  Officer and
  Treasurer(6)
Peter N. Popov..........  1998    93,561      10,000(7)         0            0        18,750             0
  Vice President,
  Secretary and General
  Counsel(6)
Jeffrey Miller..........  1998    72,173      20,000(7)         0            0        18,750             0
  Vice President,
  Chartering(6)
</TABLE>
    
 
- -------------------------
   
(1) Messrs. du Moulin, Filanowski, Popov and Miller have no restricted stock
    holdings.
    
 
(2) Options granted under the Marine Transport Corporation 1998 Equity Incentive
    Plan to the named executive officers. Marine Transport Corporation did not
    grant any stock appreciation rights in calendar year 1998.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   13
 
   
(3) Includes amounts deferred or contributed under the OMI Corp. Savings Plan
    for Messrs. Stevenson, de Sostoa and Bugbee for a combined value for the
    period prior to the Acquisition of $14,400.
    
 
   
(4) Messrs. Stevenson, de Sostoa and Bugbee served as officers of the Company
    until June 17, 1998.
    
 
(5) The value of 50,000 restricted stock awards received under the OMI 1995
    Incentive Equity Plan.
 
(6) Includes only those amounts paid to Messrs. du Moulin, Filanowski, Popov and
    Miller in their capacity as executive officers of Marine Transport
    Corporation since June 18, 1998. Prior to that date, Messrs. du Moulin,
    Filanowski, Popov and Miller were officers of MTL.
 
   
(7) Does not include bonus amounts paid by MTL to Messrs. du Moulin, Filanowski,
    Popov and Miller after the Acquisition for services rendered to MTL prior to
    the Acquisition.
    
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
   
     The Company has employment agreements with Messrs. du Moulin, Filanowski,
Popov and Miller. Pursuant to the employment agreements, Messrs. du Moulin,
Filanowski, Popov and Miller receive base salaries prescribed therein and are
eligible for discretionary incentive bonuses approved by the compensation
committee of the Company's Board of Directors.
    
 
   
     The agreements with each executive are for one-year terms commencing on
June 18, 1998 and may be renewed for consecutive one year periods. If the
agreements with Messrs. du Moulin and Filanowski are not renewed at the end of
any term thereof or if the Company terminates either Executive without cause,
the Company will be required to pay such Executive an amount equal to 150% of
the base salary then in effect for such affected Executive. The agreement with
Mr. Popov provides that if such agreement is not renewed at the end of any term
thereof or if the Company terminates Mr. Popov without cause, the Company will
be required to pay Mr. Popov an amount equal to the base salary in effect for
Mr. Popov. The agreement with Mr. Miller provides that if such agreement is not
renewed at the end of any term thereof or if the Company terminates Mr. Miller
without cause, the Company will be required to pay Mr. Miller an amount equal to
one-half of the base salary then in effect for Mr. Miller. Under the employment
agreements, each Executive will be paid, subject to the limitations of Section
280G of the Code, 300% of compensation then in effect upon the occurrence of a
change of control of the Company resulting from a hostile takeover.
    
 
     Paul B. Gridley, a member of Class II of the Company's Board of Directors,
is party to a consulting agreement with the Company pursuant to which, for two
years commencing on or about June 18, 1998, he will perform consulting services
for the Company for $189,000 per year.
 
     The following table shows information concerning stock options granted to
the named executive officers during calendar year 1998 pursuant to the Marine
Transport Corporation 1998 Incentive Equity Plan.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   14
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                        INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                              VALUE AT ASSUMED
                            -----------------------------------------                   ANNUAL RATES OF
                            NUMBER OF      % OF TOTAL                                     STOCK PRICE
                            SECURITIES      OPTIONS                                      APPRECIATION
                            UNDERLYING     GRANTED TO     EXERCISE OR                 FOR OPTION TERM(2)
                             OPTIONS       EMPLOYEES      BASE PRICE    EXPIRATION   ---------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICER           GRANTED(1)   IN FISCAL YEAR   (PER SHARE)      DATE        5%($)      10%($)
- -----------------           ----------   --------------   -----------   ----------   ---------  ----------
<S>                         <C>          <C>              <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>
Craig H. Stevenson, Jr....         0           --               --         --               --          --
Vincent J. de Sostoa......         0           --               --         --               --          --
Robert Bugbee.............         0           --               --         --               --          --
Richard T. du Moulin......    25,000          8.8            $4.61       6/29/08     40,004.05  131,966.03
Mark L. Filanowski........    20,000          7.1            $2.50(3)    6/29/08     74,203.24  147,772.83
                               5,000          1.8            $4.61       6/29/08      8,000.81   26,393.21
Peter N. Popov............    18,750          6.6            $2.50(3)    6/29/08     69,565.54  138,537.03
Jeffrey Miller............    18,750          6.6            $2.50(3)    6/29/08     69,565.54  138,537.03
</TABLE>
    
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) Options for the named executive officer were granted as of June 29, 1998.
    One-third of the options will become exercisable on June 29, 1999 and the
    remaining options will become exercisable in one-third increments on June
    29, 2000 and June 29, 2001, subject to the terms of the options.
 
(2) These amounts represent certain assumed rates of appreciation only. Actual
    gains, if any, on stock option exercises and common stock holdings are
    dependent on the future performance of the common stock and overall stock
    market conditions.
 
(3) These options were originally granted on June 29, 1998 at $4.61 per share.
    On or about December 1, 1998, the Board of Directors approved a stock option
    repricing program pursuant to which the exercise price of these options was
    reduced to $2.50 per share. On December 1, 1998, the closing price for the
    Company's common stock was $2.03 per share. (See "Report of Directors on
    Repricing of Stock Options.")
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   15
 
     The following table shows the exercise of stock options or tandem SARs
during fiscal year 1998 by each of the named executive officers and the fiscal
year-end value of unexercised options and SARs.
 
                      OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                          NUMBER                     NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED             IN-THE-MONEY
                       OF SECURITIES                OPTIONS/SARS AT FISCAL             OPTIONS/SARS
                        UNDERLYING      VALUE           YEAR END(#)(1)           AT FISCAL YEAR END($)(2)
                       OPTIONS/SARS    REALIZED   ---------------------------   ---------------------------
NAME                   EXERCISED(#)      ($)      EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- ----                   -------------   --------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                    <C>             <C>        <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Craig H. Stevenson,
  Jr.................
Vincent J. de
  Sostoa.............
Robert Bugbee........
Richard T. du
  Moulin.............        0            0            0           25,000            0              0
Mark L. Filanowski...        0            0            0           25,000            0              0
Peter N. Popov.......        0            0            0           18,750            0              0
Jeffrey Miller.......        0            0            0           18,750            0              0
</TABLE>
    
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) Under the Marine Transport Corporation 1998 Incentive Equity Plan, options
    vest over a period of three years (unless there is a change of control, in
    which case the options vest immediately) are granted at an exercise price of
    not less than 100% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the
    option on the date of the grant of the option and are exercisable over a
    period of not more than ten years from the date of grant.
 
(2) Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on NASDAQ on
    December 31, 1998 of $2.25.
 
     The following table sets forth certain information concerning the repricing
of stock options held by the named executive officers:
 
                         TEN-YEAR OPTION/SAR REPRICINGS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              LENGTH OF
                                                                                               ORIGINAL
                                                                                                OPTION
                                     NUMBER OF        MARKET                                     TERM
                                     SECURITIES      PRICE OF       EXERCISE                  REMAINING
                                     UNDERLYING      STOCK AT       PRICE AT                  AT DATE OF
                                    OPTIONS/SARS     TIME OF        TIME OF         NEW      REPRICING OR
                                    REPRICED OR    REPRICING OR   REPRICING OR   EXERCISE     AMENDMENT
NAME                        DATE     AMENDED(#)     AMENDMENT      AMENDMENT     PRICE($)    (IN MONTHS)
- ----                       -------  ------------   ------------   ------------   ---------   ------------
<S>                        <C>      <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>         <C>
Mark L. Filanowski.......  12/1/98     20,000         $2.03          $4.61         $2.50          31
  Senior Vice President,
  Chief Financial Officer
  and Treasurer
Peter N. Popov...........  12/1/98     18,750         $2.03          $4.61         $2.50          31
  Vice President,
  Secretary and General
  Counsel
Jeffrey Miller...........  12/1/98     18,750         $2.03          $4.61         $2.50          31
  Vice President,
  Chartering
</TABLE>
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   16
 
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON REPRICING OF STOCK OPTIONS
 
     On or about December 1, 1998, the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors authorized the following:
 
     - The Company agreed to reprice stock options granted to Messrs.
       Filanowski, Popov and Miller on June 29, 1998 (the "Affected Options") by
       reducing the stock option exercise price to $2.50 (the closing price of
       the Company's common stock on the NASDAQ on December 1, 1998 was $2.03).
       The original stock option exercise price of the Affected Options was
       $4.61.
 
     - The vesting schedule for the Affected Options remained unchanged.
 
     - The Affected Options continue to entitle the holders to purchase the same
       number of shares covered by the original option grant and remain
       exercisable for a period of 10 years from the original grant date.
 
     Upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of
Directors authorized the repricing at its meeting held on December 2, 1998. As a
result of widespread volatility in the financial markets during the fall of
1998, the potential value of stock options previously granted to the Company's
employees and the economic incentives expected from the grant of such options
were significantly diminished. Therefore, the Compensation Committee determined
that the repricing was necessary to implement the purpose of the 1998 Incentive
Equity Plan by retaining and motivating the Company's key employees.
 
                                          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
                                          William M. Kearns, Jr.
                                          Stanley Rich
                                          Jerome Shelby
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   17
 
                    REPORT ON SENIOR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
               BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
     The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Committee") has furnished the following report on compensation with respect to
executive officers defined under the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
 
     The Committee is comprised of non-employee directors of the Company listed
in this report. The Committee is responsible for developing and recommending the
Company's executive compensation principles, policies, and programs to the Board
of Directors. In addition, the Committee recommends to the Board of Directors,
on an annual basis, the compensation to be paid to the Chief Executive Officer
(the "CEO") and, with advice from the CEO, to each of the other executive
officers of the Company, including the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table of this proxy statement (the "Named Executives").
 
     The Committee recently retained an outside compensation consultant to
review the scope of the Company's compensation structure and make suggestions
for revision, if, desirable, to accomplish the Committee's objectives. The
report has not yet been completed and will be submitted to the Compensation
Committee as soon as it has been finalized.
 
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
 
     The Company's compensation programs are meant to support and reinforce its
long-term business strategy and link pay to shareholder value. The current
programs provide executive officers and other key employees with the opportunity
to earn market competitive salaries and incentive compensation related to
performance considered to be acceptable to the Board. The objectives of the
Company's executive compensation program, as developed by the Committee, are to:
 
     - Align compensation program design with the goals and key performance
       measures and expectations of the Company and each business unit.
 
     - Attract and retain high-quality executives with experience in the
       Company's marine transportation markets.
 
   
     - Reward executives for superior performance measured by corporate and
       business unit financial results, strategic achievements and individual
       contributions.
    
 
     - Align executives' interests with the long-term interests of shareholders
       by enabling significant Company stock ownership.
 
     The Company achieves these goals through a compensation strategy of
competitive salaries, annual cash bonuses and the grant of stock options and
other stock-based incentives.
 
   
     The marine shipping industry is extremely competitive and cyclical.
Attraction and development of experienced executives in this narrow industry is
challenging. The best use of the Company's assets and interests cannot be
realized without the conception, development and execution of creative ideas
which fully utilize worthwhile opportunities as they arise. The Company's
current compensation plan allows the Compensation Committee to judge and reward
executive achievement which meets these criteria.
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   18
 
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 162(m) POLICY
 
   
     Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the "Code"),
precludes tax deductions for compensation paid in excess of $1 million to the
Named Executives unless certain conditions are met. Based on current pay levels
and the design of existing compensation plans, the Committee believes that any
lost tax deductions, if any, for such compensation will not be material as a
result of this Code section. Therefore, it is the Committee's intent to take no
action with respect to conforming with Section 162(m) conditions that permit tax
deductions.
    
 
BASE SALARIES
 
     The Committee seeks to set base salaries for the Company's executive
officers at levels that are competitive with those for executives with
comparable roles and responsibilities, including revenue size, within the marine
shipping industry. Individual executive officer salaries are reviewed annually
by the Committee, which may approve increases from time to time based on
individual and company performance, as well as general increases in pay levels
for executives within the marine shipping industry.
 
   
     Base salary increases were granted on or about June 18, 1998 to the Named
Executives.
    
 
ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The Committee administers an annual cash incentive program for executive
officers, as well as other management employees. Executive officers are either
corporate executives or executives responsible for a significant business
segment.
 
   
     Each year the Committee recommends to the Company's Board of Directors an
individual cash bonus. The amount of the cash bonus reflects the Committee's
consideration of such factors as earnings per share, cash flow, strategic
decisions that position the Company for long-term success and individual
employee contributions. Awards for selected business unit executives also vary
based on business unit financial performance.
    
 
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
   
     The 1998 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the Committee to award stock
options (both non-qualified and incentive options), stock appreciation rights, a
stock bonus and restricted stock to key executives.
    
 
   
     Stock option and restricted stock grants are designed to align the
long-term interests of the Company's executives with those of its shareholders
by directly linking executive pay to shareholder return. During 1998,
non-qualified options were granted pursuant to the 1998 Equity Incentive Plan at
not less than fair market value on the date of grant. Both the size of such
grants and the proportion relative to the total number of option shares granted
are a function of the recipient's level of responsibility within the Company,
stock option (and/or long-term incentive) grants provided to comparable
executives within other marine shipping companies and the judgement of the
Committee. There were no grants of restricted stock in 1998.
    
 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
 
     The principles guiding compensation for the CEO are the same as those set
forth for other executive officers. Due to the Company's recent restructuring
arising from the
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   19
 
Acquisition, Mr. du Moulin's overall compensation is being reviewed in
conjunction with the study by the appointed compensation consultant. In 1998, he
received a standard cost of living adjustment which increased his salary from
$295,000 to $303,850. Mr. du Moulin also received incentive compensation of
$30,000 which may be adjusted as a result of the study. In addition, consistent
with the policy of aligning executive pay opportunity with shareholder
interests, Mr. du Moulin was granted the option to purchase 25,000 shares of the
Company's common stock for $4.61 per share pursuant to the 1998 Equity Incentive
Plan.
 
                                          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
                                          William M. Kearns, Jr.
                                          Stanley Rich
                                          Jerome Shelby
 
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's executive officers
and directors and holders of more than 10% of the Company's common stock
(collectively, "reporting persons") to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership of the Company's equity securities with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and NASDAQ. Based upon a review of the copies of such reports
furnished to the Company and written representations from the reporting persons
other than executive officers and directors of the Company that no reports on
Form 5 were required to be filed, the Company believes that all reports by such
reporting persons were timely filed except that one Form 5 report for each of
Messrs. du Moulin, Gridley, Filanowski, Shelby, Kearns, Rich, Klebanoff, Blank,
Popov and Miller and Ms. Chao was not timely filed by February 15, 1999 to
report the grant of options described. (See "Option Grants in Last Fiscal
Year.")
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Kearns, Rich and Shelby, all
of whom are directors of the Company and none of whom are or were officers of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries. During 1998, Jerome Shelby was of
Counsel to the law firm of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft and a member of the
Compensation Committee. In 1998, MTL and the Company retained Cadwalader
Wickersham & Taft to provide legal services.
 
     Set forth below is a graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder
return on the Company's common stock with the cumulative total return of the Dow
Jones Equity Market Index and the Dow Jones Marine Transportation Index for the
five-year period ended December 31, 1998.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   20
 
   
                COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
    
 
   
                     AMONG MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION,**
    
   
                     THE DOW JONES EQUITY MARKET INDEX AND
    
   
                   THE DOW JONES MARINE TRANSPORTATION INDEX
    
 
[5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURNS CHART]
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    MARINE TRANSPORT                                        DOW JONES MARINE
                                                       CORPORATION           DOW JONES EQUITY MARKET         TRANSPORTATION
                                                    ----------------         -----------------------        ----------------
<S>                                             <C>                         <C>                         <C>
12/93                                                      100                         100                         100
12/94                                                       96                         101                          92
12/95                                                       95                         139                         105
12/96                                                      127                         171                         128
12/97                                                      134                         171                         154
6/18/98                                                      9                         261                         119
12/98                                                        3                         294                          95
</TABLE>
 
   
 * $100 INVESTED ON 12/31/93 IN STOCK OR INDEX.
    
   
   INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF DIVIDENDS.
    
   
   FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31.
    
 
   
** ON OR ABOUT JUNE 18, 1998, OMI CORP. CHANGED ITS NAME TO MARINE TRANSPORT
   CORPORATION AND BEGAN TO TRADE ON NASDAQ UNDER THE SYMBOL MTLX. PRIOR TO THAT
   DATE, OMI CORP. TRADED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE UNDER THE SYMBOL OMM.
   AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WHICH OCCURRED CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE
   CHANGE OF THE NAME OF OMI CORP. TO MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION, THE
   SHAREHOLDERS OF OMI CORP.: (A) RECEIVED ONE SHARE OF STOCK IN A NEWLY CREATED
   MARSHALL ISLANDS CORPORATION NAMED OMI CORPORATION FOR EACH SHARE OF STOCK OF
   OMI CORP.; AND (B) CONTINUED TO OWN THEIR STOCK IN OMI CORP. WHICH,
   CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE CHANGE OF ITS NAME TO MARINE TRANSPORT
   CORPORATION, WAS SUBJECT TO A ONE FOR TEN REVERSE STOCK SPLIT (THE "REVERSE
   STOCK SPLIT"). IN ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF MARINE
   TRANSPORT CORPORATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE: (A)
   CHART CHRONICLES THE PERFORMANCE OF OMI CORP. FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER
   31, 1993 UNTIL JUNE 18, 1998, WHEN IT OPERATED BOTH ITS DOMESTIC AND
   INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES (SEE "CERTAIN BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONCERNING
   MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION, ITS DIRECTORS AND ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS"); AND
   (B) PERFORMANCE OF THE STOCK OF MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION SINCE JUNE 18,
   1998, REFLECTS THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.
    
 
   
     The total return on the Company's common stock and each index assumes the
value of each investment was $100 on December 31, 1993, and that all dividends
were reinvested.
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   21
 
                            RATIFICATION OF AUDITORS
 
   
     Pursuant to certain transactions which were consummated on or about June
17, 1998 (see "Certain Background Information Concerning Marine Transport
Corporation, its Directors and its Executive Officers"), Deloitte & Touche LLP,
the Company's independent accountant for its 1996 and 1997 fiscal years,
resigned. At the annual shareholders meeting held on June 15, 1998, shareholders
voted to appoint Ernst & Young LLP as independent accountants of the Company. In
the past two years there were no disagreements with Deloitte & Touche on
accounting and financial disclosure, and there have been no reports from
auditors which have been qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope,
or accounting principles, nor has there been an adverse opinion or a disclaimer
of opinion.
    
 
     The Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as auditors of the
Company and various subsidiaries for the year 1999. A representative of Ernst &
Young LLP is expected to be present at the meeting with the opportunity to make
a statement if he desires to do so and to respond to appropriate questions.
 
     The Board of Directors recommends a vote in favor of ratification of the
appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors for 1999.
 
                  PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S AMENDED
                   AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
 
     The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation states that
the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be
five, seven or nine, as fixed from time to time by the vote of not less than
66 2/3% of the entire Board of Directors. The Company's Board of Directors
proposes to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to make the number of directors constituting the entire Board of
Directors not less than five nor more than fifteen, as fixed from time to time
by the vote of not less than 66 2/3% of the entire Board of Directors of the
Company. APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF HOLDERS OF
80% OR MORE OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF THE COMPANY COMMON STOCK. A copy of the
proposed amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation is attached as Exhibit A hereto.
 
   
     The purpose of this proposal is to allow the Board of Directors to fix the
number of directors constituting its entire board at a number between five and
fifteen to: (a) permit Mr. Brent D. Baird to become a member of Class I of the
Company's Board of Directors; and; (b) make the Company's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation consistent with its By-laws. Mr. Baird is directly
or indirectly the beneficial owner of approximately 13% of the Company's common
stock and possesses considerable knowledge and experience concerning the
shipping industry. The Board of the Company believes that the Company will
benefit materially if this proposal is adopted, thereby permitting Mr. Baird to
become a member of Class I of the Board of Directors if he receives the votes
required for his election thereto.
    
 
     The Board of Directors recommends a vote in favor of this proposal.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   22
 
             PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR
             NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS AND 1998 INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN
 
   
     The Marine Transport Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
Directors (the "1998 Directors Plan") was approved by the shareholders of the
Company on June 15, 1998. Under the 1998 Directors Plan, the Company: (a)
automatically granted options to purchase 7,500 shares of the Company's stock to
each eligible non-employee director of the Company serving as a director on June
18, 1998; and (b) will automatically grant to each subsequently elected or
appointed eligible non-employee director the option to purchase 7,500 shares.
100,000 shares of the Company's common stock have been reserved for awards under
this plan.
    
 
     The Marine Transport Corporation 1998 Incentive Equity Plan (the "1998
Incentive Plan") was approved by the shareholders of the Company on June 15,
1998. The 1998 Incentive Plan authorizes the Company to grant its employees
stock options, stock appreciation rights in tandem with such options, restricted
stock or bonuses payable in stock. 550,000 shares of the Company's common stock
have been reserved for awards under this plan.
 
   
     The Compensation Committee has advised the Board of Directors that the
committee believes the number of shares reserved for options or awards under the
1998 Directors Plan and the 1998 Incentive Plan are insufficient to provide
equity incentives to eligible directors and employees of the Company beyond
2000. Therefore, the Board is proposing to amend the 1998 Directors Plan and the
1998 Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for award under:
(a) the 1998 Directors Plan from 100,000 to 150,000; and (b) the 1998 Incentive
Plan from 550,000 to 825,000. The Compensation Committee believes that these
amendments will enhance materially the ability of each plan to align more
effectively the interests of the Company's board members and employees with
those of the Company's shareholders and to attract and retain the managers which
the Company expects to need in the future.
    
 
   
     The Company is also proposing to make an additional amendment to the 1998
Incentive Plan in order to meet the requirements for deductibility of certain
compensation paid by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code. Under that
section, certain payments to executive officers of the Company in excess of $1
million are not deductible by the Company. However, compensation that qualifies
as "performance-based compensation" is not subject to this limitation and in
order to so qualify, the terms of the compensation must be disclosed to, and
approved by, the Company's stockholders.
    
 
   
     The Board of Directors therefore proposes to amend the 1998 Incentive Plan
to provide that no more than 300,000 shares may be optioned or awarded to any
one person during any year and no more than an aggregate of 500,000 shares of
restricted stock may be granted under such plan.
    
 
   
     A copy of the 1998 Directors Plan, as proposed to be amended, is attached
as Exhibit B hereto. A copy of the 1998 Incentive Plan, as proposed to be
amended, is attached as Exhibit C hereto.
    
 
   
     The Board of Directors recommends a vote in favor of the amendments.
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   23
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Company has no knowledge of any matters to be presented to the meeting
other than those set forth above. The persons named in the accompanying form of
proxy will use their own discretion in voting with respect to matters which are
not determined or known at the date hereof.
 
     A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K is enclosed with this
Proxy Statement.
 
                 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
 
     Any proposals of stockholders to be presented at the Company's 2000 Annual
Meeting pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8 must be received at the Company's principal
executive offices, 1200 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, New Jersey 07087-0901,
Attention: Secretary, not later than December 1, 1999, for inclusion in the
Company's proxy statement and form of proxy for that Annual Meeting.
 
     Written notice of shareholder proposals to be submitted outside of SEC Rule
14a-8 for consideration at the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting but not to be
included in the Company's proxy materials must be received by the Company, at
the address set forth in the preceding paragraph, on or before February 15, 2000
in order to be considered timely. The persons designated as proxies by the
Company for the 2000 Annual Meeting will have discretionary voting authority
with respect to any shareholder proposal of which the Company did not receive
timely notice.
 
     Please sign, date, and return the accompanying proxy in the enclosed
envelope at your earliest convenience.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          PETER N. POPOV
                                          Secretary
 
Weehawken, New Jersey
   
April 8, 1999
    
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   24
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
 
                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                     RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
 
                           -------------------------
 
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 242 OF THE GENERAL
                    CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
                           -------------------------
 
     Marine Transport Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), hereby
certifies as follows:
 
          1. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was
     filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 12,
     1983 and amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation were subsequently
     duly filed and recorded (the Restated Certificate of Incorporation together
     with such amendments shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation").
 
          2. The following amendment is to become effective as of              ,
     1999 at 8:00 a.m.
 
          3. Section (a) of ARTICLE SIXTH of the Restated Certificate of
     Incorporation is amended to read in full as follows:
 
             SIXTH:  (a) The number of directors constituting the entire Board
        of Directors shall be not less than five nor more than fifteen, as fixed
        from time to time by the vote of not less than 66 2/3% of the entire
        Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors
        shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director in office
        at that time, and provided, further, that the number of directors
        constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be ten until otherwise
        fixed by the vote of not less than 66 2/3% of the entire Board of
        Directors. The phrase "66 2/3% of the entire Board of Directors" as used
        in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer
        to 66 2/3% of the number of directors constituting the Board of
        Directors as provided in Section (a) of this Article Sixth, without
        regard to any vacancies then existing.
 
          4. The aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the
     provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
     Delaware.
<PAGE>   25
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused its corporate seal to be
affixed hereto and this certificate to be signed by its President and attested
by its Secretary this                day of              , 1999.
 
                                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
 
                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Richard T. du Moulin
                                              President
 
[Corporate Seal]
 
Attest:
 
By:
    --------------------------------------------------
    Peter N. Popov
    Secretary
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   26
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
 
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                           FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
 
                           -------------------------
 
     1.  Purpose of the Plan.  The purpose of the Marine Transport Corporation
1998 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan") is to aid Marine
Transport Corporation (the "Company") in securing for the Company and its
stockholders the benefits of having experienced and highly qualified persons who
are not and have never been employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or affiliates become and remain members of the Board of Directors (the "Board")
of the Company and to provide to such persons the benefits of the incentive
inherent in common stock ownership.
 
     2.  Stock Subject to Plan.  The stock which may be issued and sold under
the Plan shall be the Common Stock (par value $0.50 per share) of the Company,
of a total number not exceeding 150,000 shares, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 9. The stock to be issued may be either authorized and
unissued shares or issued shares acquired by the Company. Each stock option
granted pursuant to the Plan is referred to herein as an "Option." In the event
that Options granted under the Plan shall terminate or expire without being
exercised in whole or in part, new Options may be granted covering the shares
not purchased under such lapsed Options.
 
     3.  Eligibility.  Each member of the Board shall be eligible to receive
Options in accordance with the terms of the Plan, provided he or she, as of the
date of a granting of an Option, (i) is not an employee of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or affiliates and (ii) is otherwise not eligible for selection
to participate in any plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
affiliates that entitles the participant therein to acquire securities or
derivative securities of the Company. Each member of the Board who receives an
Option hereunder is referred to herein as an "Optionee." As used in the Plan,
"Subsidiary" means any corporation in which the Company, directly or indirectly,
controls 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of such
corporation's stock.
 
     4.  Option Grants.  (a) Subject to the maximum number of shares which may
be purchased pursuant to the exercise of Options, as set forth in Section 2 (as
such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 9), and to the
approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company, an Option to purchase,
in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter provided,
7,500 shares of the Common Stock of the Company shall be and hereby is granted,
without further action by the Board, as of the close of business on the Second
Closing Date (as such term is defined in the Acquisition Agreement dated as of
September 15, 1997 among the Company, Universal Bulk Carriers, Inc., Marine
Transport Lines, Inc. ("MTL") and certain shareholders of MTL), to each person
who is serving as an eligible director of the Company on such date.
 
     (b) Each person who subsequent to the Second Closing Date, first becomes an
eligible director of the Company shall (i) on the date of the Annual or Special
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company at which he or she is first elected to
the Board by vote of the stockholders, or (ii) on the date of appointment to the
Board with respect to a director appointed to the Board by the Board to fill a
vacancy on the Board, however occurring,
<PAGE>   27
 
whether by the death, resignation or removal of any director, any increase in
the number of directors comprising the Board, or otherwise, shall, by reason of
such election or appointment and without further action by the Board, be granted
as of the close of business on said date an Option to purchase, in the manner
and subject to the terms and conditions herein provided and to the extent such
number of shares remain available for such purpose hereunder, 7,500 shares of
the Common Stock of the Company. In the event that the number of shares
available for grants under the Plan is insufficient to make all grants hereby
specified on the applicable date, then all those who become entitled to a grant
on such date shall share ratably in the number of shares then available for
grant under the Plan.
 
     (c) It is understood that the Board may, at any time and from time to time
after the granting of an Option hereunder, specify such additional terms,
conditions and restrictions with respect to such Option as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate to ensure compliance with any and all applicable laws,
including, but not limited to, terms, restrictions and conditions for compliance
with federal and state securities laws and methods of withholding or providing
for the payment of required taxes.
 
     5.  General Terms and Conditions of Options.  Each Option granted under the
Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement in such form as the Board shall
prescribe from time to time in accordance with the Plan and shall comply with
the following terms and conditions:
 
          (a) The Option exercise price with respect to that portion of the
     shares of Common Stock covered by each Option granted pursuant to Section
     4(b) which become exercisable on the first anniversary date of the grant of
     the Option (the "Initial Exercise Price for Section 4(b) Options") shall be
     the higher of: (i) the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of the Common
     Stock on the date the Option is granted or (ii) the average of the Fair
     Market Values of the Common Stock for each of the 10 days ending on the
     date the Option is granted. The Option exercise price with respect to that
     portion of the shares of Common Stock covered by each Option granted
     pursuant to Section 4(a) which become exercisable on the first anniversary
     date of the Option (the "Initial Exercise Price for Section 4(a) Options")
     shall be the average of the Fair Market Values of the Common Stock for each
     of the 10 days following the Second Closing Date.
 
          Fair Market Value on any date, means (i) if the Common Stock is listed
     on a securities exchange or is traded over the Nasdaq National Market
     System, the closing sales price on such exchange or over such system on
     such date or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing
     sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported,
     or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a securities exchange or
     traded over the Nasdaq National Market System, the mean between the bid and
     offered prices as quoted by the National Association of Securities Dealers
     through Nasdaq for such date, provided that if it is determined that the
     fair market value is not properly reflected by such Nasdaq quotations, fair
     market value will be determined by such other method as the Board
     determines in good faith to be reasonable.
 
          (b) Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an
     Option Agreement. The Option Agreement shall not be a precondition to the
     granting of Options; however, no person shall have any rights under any
     Option granted under the Plan unless and until the Optionee to whom such
     Option shall have been granted shall have executed and delivered to the
     Company an Option Agreement. A fully
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   28
 
     executed original of the Option Agreement shall be provided to both the
     Company and the Optionee.
 
          (c) All Options shall be nonstatutory stock options not intended to
     qualify as stock options entitled to special tax treatment under Section
     422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
 
          (d) Options shall not be transferable by the Optionee otherwise than
     by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable
     during the Optionee's lifetime only by the Optionee.
 
          (e) Each Option shall be subject to the following restrictions on
     exercise:
 
             (i) The Option is not immediately exercisable. Except in the event
        of the Optionee's death, an Option shall not be exercisable, in whole or
        in part, prior to the expiration of one (1) year from the date of grant
        or after the expiration of ten years from the date the Option was
        granted. To the extent that an Option is not exercised within the
        ten-year period of exercisability, it shall expire as to the then
        unexercised part.
 
             (ii) Subject to Sections 5(e)(i), 6 and 7, the total number of
        shares of Common Stock covered by the Option (as such number may be
        adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 9) shall become
        exercisable on the first anniversary date of the grant of the Option.
 
             (iii) An Option shall not be exercisable with respect to a
        fractional share or with respect to the lesser of fifty (50) shares or
        the full number of shares then subject to the Option.
 
             (iv) Except as provided in Section 6, an Option shall not be
        exercisable in whole or in part unless the Optionee, at the time the
        Optionee exercises the Option, is, and has been at all times since the
        date of grant of the Option, a director of the Company.
 
             (v) An Option may only be exercised by delivery of written notice
        of the exercise to the Company specifying the number of shares to be
        purchased and by making payment in full for the shares of Common Stock
        being acquired thereunder at the time of exercise (including applicable
        withholding taxes, if any); unless the Option Agreement shall otherwise
        provide, such payment shall be made
 
                  (A) in United States dollars by check or bank draft, or
 
                  (B) by tendering to the Company Common Stock shares already
             owned for at least six (6) months by the person exercising the
             Option, which may include shares received as the result of a prior
             exercise of an Option, and having a Fair Market Value equal to the
             cash exercise price applicable to such Option, or
 
                  (C) by a combination of United States dollars and Common Stock
             shares as aforesaid, or
 
                  (D) in accordance with a cashless exercise program under
             which, if so instructed by the Optionee, shares of Common Stock may
             be issued directly to the Optionee's broker or dealer upon receipt
             of the purchase price for such shares in cash from the broker or
             dealer.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   29
 
             (vi) If at any time the Board shall determine, in its discretion,
        that the listing, registration or qualification of shares upon any
        national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market or under any
        state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental
        regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
        connection with, the sale or purchase of shares hereunder, such Option
        may not be exercised in whole or in part unless and until such listing,
        registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been
        effected or obtained, or otherwise provided for, free of any conditions
        not acceptable to the Board in the exercise of its reasonable judgment.
 
     6.  Termination of Service.  An Option shall terminate upon the
termination, for any reason, of the Optionee's directorship with the Company,
and no shares may thereafter be purchased under such Option except as follows:
 
          (a) Upon retirement as a director of the Company after one (1) year of
     service, each unexpired Option held by the Optionee shall, to the extent
     otherwise exercisable on such date, remain exercisable, in whole or in
     part, for a period of one (1) year following such retirement.
 
          (b) Upon termination of service as a director of the Company by reason
     of death or disability each unexpired Option held by the Optionee, or in
     the case of death, the Optionee's executors, administrators, heirs or
     distributees, as the case may be, shall become immediately exercisable and
     shall remain exercisable, in whole or in part, for a period of one (1) year
     after such termination. Disability shall mean an inability as determined by
     the Board to perform duties and services as a director of the Company by
     reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, supported
     by medical evidence, which can be expected to last for a continuous period
     of not less than six (6) months.
 
     In the event any Option is exercised by the executors, administrators,
heirs or distributees of the estate of a deceased Optionee, the Company shall be
under no obligation to issue Common Stock thereunder unless and until the
Company is satisfied that the person or persons exercising the Option are the
duly appointed legal representative of the deceased Optionee's estate or the
proper legatees or distributees thereof.
 
     In no event, however, may an Option be exercised (i) prior to the
expiration of six (6) months from the date of grant, or (ii) after ten (10)
years from the date it was granted.
 
     7.  Change in Control.  (a) Notwithstanding other provisions of the Plan,
but subject to Section 6 and 7(c), in the event of a change in control of the
Company, (i) all of the Optionee's then outstanding Options shall immediately
become exercisable, unless directed otherwise by a resolution adopted by the
Board prior to and specifically relating to the occurrence of such change in
control, and (ii) each Optionee shall have the right within one (1) year after
such event to exercise the Option in full notwithstanding any limitation or
restriction in any Option Agreement or in the Plan.
 
     (b) For purposes of this Section 7, a "change in control" shall mean a
change in control with respect to the Company, occurring on or after the Second
Closing Date, that would be required to be reported in response to Item 1 (a) of
the Current Report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the Second Closing Date,
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"); provided that, without limitation, such a change
in control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as any "person" (as
defined in Section 3(9) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   30
 
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly of 20% or more of the securities of the Company which are entitled
to vote. Notwithstanding anything aforesaid to the contrary, a change in control
with respect to the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if individuals who
constitute the Board on the Second Closing Date, cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board.
 
     (c) In no event, however, may any Option be exercised (i) prior to the
expiration of six (6) months from the date of grant, or (ii) after ten (10)
years from the date it was granted.
 
     8.  Purchase for Investment.  (a) Except as hereafter provided, the holder
of an Option shall, upon any exercise thereof, execute and deliver to the
Company a written statement, in form satisfactory to the Company, in which such
holder represents and warrants that such holder is purchasing or acquiring the
shares acquired thereunder for such holder's own account, for investment only
and not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof, and represents and
agrees that any subsequent offer for sale or distribution of any of such shares
shall be made only pursuant to either (i) a registration statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), which registration statement has become effective and is current with
regard to the shares being offered or sold, or (ii) a specific exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, but in claiming such
exemption the holder shall, prior to any offer for sale or sale of such shares,
obtain a prior favorable written opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Company, from counsel for or approved by the Company, as to the
applicability of such exemption thereto. The foregoing restriction shall not
apply to (a) issuances by the Company so long as the shares being issued are
registered under the Securities Act and a prospectus in respect thereof is
current or (b) reofferings of shares by affiliates of the Company (as defined in
Rule 405 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities
Act) if the shares being reoffered are registered under the Securities Act and a
prospectus in respect thereof is current.
 
     (b) The Company may endorse such legend or legends upon the certificates
for shares issued upon exercise of an Option granted hereunder and may issue
such "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent in respect of such
shares as, in its discretion, it determines to be necessary or appropriate to
prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.
 
     9.  Adjustment in the Event of Change in Stock; Reorganization.  (a) In the
event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock of the Company after the Second
Closing Date by reason of stock dividend, reverse split, subdivision,
recapitalization, split-up, combination or exchange of shares, reorganization or
liquidation, extraordinary dividend payable in cash or property, and the like,
the aggregate number and class of shares available under the Plan, and the
number, class and the price of shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding
Options shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board, whose determination shall
be conclusive.
 
     (b) In the event (i) the Company is merged or consolidated with another
corporation and the company is not the surviving corporation, or the Company
shall be the surviving corporation and there shall be any change in the Common
Stock of the Company by reason of such merger or consolidation, or (ii) all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company are acquired by another
corporation, or (iii) there is a reorganization or liquidation of the Company
(each such event being hereinafter referred to as a "Reorganization Event"), or
(iv) the Board shall propose that the Company enter into a Reorganization Event,
then the Board (acting solely through members of the Board who
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   31
 
were members of the Board prior to the occurrence of the Reorganization Event)
may in its discretion take any or all of the following actions:
 
          (A) by written notice to Optionee, provide that the Option shall be
     terminated unless exercised within thirty days (or such longer period as
     the Board shall determine in its discretion) after the date of such notice;
     and
 
          (B) advance the dates upon which any or all outstanding Options
     granted to Optionee shall be exercisable.
 
     Whenever deemed appropriate by the Board, any action referred to in this
Section 9(b) may be made conditional upon the consummation of the applicable
Reorganization Event.
 
     (c) Any adjustments or other action pursuant to this Section 9 shall be
made by the Board and the Board's determination as to what adjustments shall be
made or actions taken, and the extent thereof, shall be final and binding.
 
     10.  Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board. The
Board shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such
powers to include authority (within the limitations described herein) to
prescribe the form of all Option Agreements. The Board shall, subject to the
provisions of the Plan, have the power to construe the Plan, to determine all
questions arising thereunder and to adopt and amend such rules and regulations
for the administration of the Plan as it may deem desirable. Any decision of the
Board in the administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall be final and
conclusive. The Board may act only by a majority of its members in office,
except that the members thereof may authorize any one or more of their number or
the secretary or any other officer of the Company to execute and deliver
documents on behalf of the Board. No member of the Board shall be liable for
anything done or omitted to be done by such member or by any other member of the
Board in connection with the Plan, except as may expressly be provided by
statute.
 
     11.  Miscellaneous Provisions.  (a) Except as expressly provided for in the
Plan, no director or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an
Option under the Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be
construed as giving any eligible director any right to be retained in the
service of the Company as a director or otherwise.
 
     (b) An Optionee's rights and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or
transferred in whole or in part either directly or by operation of law or
otherwise (except in the event of an Optionee's death, by will or the laws of
descent and distribution), including, but not by way of limitation, execution,
levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other manner, and no
such right or interest of any participant in the Plan shall be subject to any
obligation or liability of such participant.
 
     (c) It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to issue
shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an Option that the Optionee (or any
beneficiary or person entitled to act) pay to the Company, upon its demand, such
amount, in cash and/or Common Stock, as may be requested by the Company for the
purpose of satisfying its liability, if any, to withhold federal, state, local
or foreign income or other taxes; provided, however, that such withholding
obligation may be met by the withholding of Common Stock otherwise deliverable
to the Optionee in accordance with such procedures as may be adopted by the
Board; provided, further, however, the amount of Common Stock so withheld shall
not exceed the minimum required withholding obligation. If the
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   32
 
amount requested is not paid, the Company may refuse to issue the shares of
Common Stock.
 
     (d) The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
 
     (e) The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company nor the Board shall be
required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other
segregation of assets to assure the issuance of shares upon exercise of any
Option under the Plan and issuance of shares upon exercise of Options shall be
subordinate to the claims of the Company's general creditors. Proceeds from the
sale of shares pursuant to Options however shall constitute general funds of the
Company. Neither the Company, a Subsidiary or the Board shall be deemed to be a
trustee of any amounts to be paid under the Plan.
 
     (f) By accepting any Option or other benefit under the Plan, each Optionee
and each person claiming under or through such person shall be conclusively
deemed to have indicated his acceptance and ratification, and consent to, any
action taken under the Plan by the Company or the Board.
 
     (g) An Optionee shall have no voting rights or other rights of stockholders
with respect to shares which are subject to an Option, nor shall cash dividends
accrue or be payable with respect to any such shares.
 
     (h) The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
 
     (i) No fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of an Option. If
a fractional share shall become subject to an Option by reason of a stock
dividend or otherwise, the Optionee shall not be entitled to exercise the Option
with respect to such fractional share.
 
     12.  Amendment or Discontinuance.  Except as provided in this Section 12,
the Plan may be amended at any time and from time to time by the Board as the
Board shall deem advisable including, but not limited to amendments necessary to
qualify for any exemption or to comply with applicable law or regulations.
Except as provided in Section 9 above, the Board may not, without further
approval by the stockholders of the Company, increase the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock as to which Options may be granted under the Plan,
increase the number of shares subject to an Option, reduce the Option exercise
price described in Section 5(a), extend the period during which Options may be
granted or exercised under the Plan or change the class of persons eligible to
receive Options under the Plan. No amendment of the Plan shall materially and
adversely affect any right of any Optionee with respect to any Option
theretofore granted without such Optionee's written consent.
 
     13.  Limits of Liability.  (a) Any liability of the Company to any
participant with respect to an Option award shall be based solely upon
contractual obligations, if any, created by the Plan and the Option Agreement.
 
     (b) Neither the Company nor or any member of the Board, nor any other
person participating in any determination of any question under the Plan, or in
the interpretation, administration or application of the Plan, shall have any
liability to any party for any action taken or not taken in connection with the
Plan, except as may expressly be provided by statute.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   33
 
     14.  Termination.  This Plan shall terminate upon the earlier of the
following dates or events to occur:
 
     (a) upon the adoption of a resolution of the Board terminating the Plan;
 
     (b) the date all shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan are purchased
according to the Plan's provisions; or
 
     (c) ten years from the Second Closing Date.
 
No such termination of this Plan shall affect the rights of any Optionee
hereunder and all Options previously granted hereunder shall continue in force
and in operation after termination of the Plan, except as they may be otherwise
terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   34
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT C
 
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                           1998 INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN
 
                           -------------------------
 
     1.  Purpose.  The purpose of the Marine Transport Corporation 1998
Incentive Equity Plan (the "Plan") is to maintain the ability of Marine
Transport Corporation (the "Company") and its subsidiaries to attract and retain
highly qualified and experienced employees and to give such employees a
continued proprietary interest in the success of the Company and its
subsidiaries. Pursuant to the Plan, such employees will be offered the
opportunity to acquire common stock through the grant of options, stock
appreciation rights in tandem with such options, the award of restricted stock
under the Plan, bonuses payable in stock or a combination thereof. Unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise, references herein to "option" or "options"
shall include any tandem stock appreciation right that may be granted in
connection with such option or options in accordance with Paragraph 6(f) hereof.
 
     As used herein, the term "subsidiary" shall mean any present or future
corporation which is or would be a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company as
the term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time (the "Code"). References to the "Exchange Act" are to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
     2.  Administration of the Plan.  The Plan shall be administered by a
compensation committee (the "Committee") as appointed from time to time by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), which Committee shall consist
of not less than three (3) members of the Board who are "outside directors" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. No member of the Committee shall be
eligible to be granted options or awarded restricted stock or bonuses payable in
stock under the Plan. No member of the Board shall be appointed to the Committee
who has been granted an option or awarded restricted stock or bonuses payable in
stock under the Plan within one year prior to appointment. A majority of the
members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The vote of a majority of a
quorum shall constitute action by the Committee.
 
     In administering the Plan, the Committee may adopt rules and regulations
for carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and decision with regard to any
question arising under the Plan made by the Committee shall be final and
conclusive on all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries participating or
eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee may consult with counsel, who
may be counsel to the Company, and shall not incur any liability for any action
taken in good faith in reliance upon the advice of counsel. The Committee shall
determine the employees to whom, and the time or times at which, grants or
awards shall be made and the number of shares to be included in the grants or
awards. Within the limitations of the Plan, the number of shares for which
options will be granted from time to time and the periods for which the options
will be outstanding will be determined by the Committee.
 
     Each option or stock or other awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be
evidenced by an Option Agreement or Award Agreement (the "Agreement"). The
Agreement shall not be a precondition to the granting of options or stock or
other awards; however, no
<PAGE>   35
 
person shall have any rights under any option or stock or other awards granted
under the Plan unless and until the person to whom such option or stock or other
award shall have been granted shall have executed and delivered to the Company
an Agreement. The Committee shall prescribe the form of all Agreements. A fully
executed original of the Agreement shall be provided to both the Company and the
recipient of the grant or award.
 
   
     3.  Shares of Stock Subject to the Plan.  The total number of shares that
may be optioned or awarded under the Plan is 825,000 shares of the $0.50 par
value common stock of the Company (the "Common Stock"), of which no more than
300,000 shares may be optioned or awarded to any person during any year, except
that said number of shares shall be adjusted as provided in Paragraph 13. Any
shares subject to an option which for any reason expires or is terminated
unexercised and any restricted stock which is forfeited may again be optioned or
awarded under the Plan. Shares subject to the Plan may be either authorized and
unissued shares or issued shares acquired by the Company or its subsidiaries.
    
 
     4.  Eligibility.  Key salaried employees, including officers, of the
Company and its subsidiaries (but excluding non-employee directors) are eligible
to be granted options and awarded restricted stock under the Plan and to have
their bonuses payable in stock. The employees who shall receive awards or
options under the Plan shall be selected from time to time by the Committee, in
its sole discretion, from among those eligible, which may be based upon
information furnished to the Committee by the Company's management, and the
Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the number of shares to be
covered by the award or awards and by the option or options granted to each such
employee selected. Such key salaried employees who are selected to participate
in the Plan shall be referred to collectively herein as "Participants."
 
     5.  Duration of the Plan.  No award or option may be granted under the Plan
more than ten years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date
the Plan receives shareholder approval, whichever is earlier, but awards or
options theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.
 
     6.  Terms and Conditions of Stock Options.  All options granted under this
Plan shall be either incentive stock options, as defined in Section 422 of the
Code, or options other than incentive stock options. Each such option shall be
subject to all the applicable provisions of the Plan, including the following
terms and conditions, and to such other terms and conditions not inconsistent
therewith as the Committee shall determine.
 
          (a) The option price per share shall be determined by the Committee.
     However, subject to Paragraph 6(k), the option price of (i) incentive stock
     options and (ii) options granted to persons who are "covered persons" for
     purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code shall not be less than 100% of the
     fair market value of a share of Common Stock at the time the option is
     granted. For purposes of the Plan, the fair market value on any date, means
     (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a securities exchange or is traded
     over the Nasdaq National Market System, the closing sales price on such
     exchange or over such system on such date or, in the absence of reported
     sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding
     date on which sales were reported, or (ii) if the Common Stock is not
     listed on a securities exchange or traded over the Nasdaq National Market
     System, the mean between the bid and offered prices as quoted by the
     National Association of Securities Dealers through Nasdaq for such date,
     provided that if it is determined that the fair market value is not
     properly reflected by such Nasdaq quotations, fair market value will be
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   36
 
     determined by such other method as the Committee determines in good faith
     to be reasonable.
 
          (b) Each option shall be exercisable pursuant to the attainment of
     such performance goals and/or during and over such period ending not later
     than ten years from the date it was granted, as may be determined by the
     Committee and stated in the Agreement. In no event may an option be
     exercised more than 10 years from the date the option was granted.
 
          (c) Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, no option shall be
     exercisable within six months from the date of the granting of the option.
     An option shall not be exercisable with respect to a fractional share of
     Common Stock or with respect to the lesser of fifty (50) shares or the full
     number of shares then subject to the option. No fractional shares of Common
     Stock shall be issued upon the exercise of an option. If a fractional share
     of Common Stock shall become subject to an option by reason of a stock
     dividend or otherwise, the optionee shall not be entitled to exercise the
     option with respect to such fractional share.
 
          (d) Each Option Agreement shall state whether the option(s) evidenced
     thereby will or will not be treated as incentive stock option(s).
 
          (e) Each option may be exercised by giving written notice to the
     Company specifying the number of shares to be purchased, which shall be
     accompanied by payment in full including, if required by applicable law,
     taxes, if any. Payment, except as provided in the Agreement, shall be
 
             (A) in United States dollars by check or bank draft, or
 
             (B) by tendering to the Company Common Stock shares already owned
        for at least six months by the person exercising the option, which may
        include shares received as the result of a prior exercise of an option,
        and having a fair market value, as determined in accordance with
        Paragraph 6(a), on the date on which the option is exercised equal to
        the cash exercise price applicable to such option, or
 
             (C) by a combination of United States dollars and Common Stock
        shares as aforesaid, or
 
             (D) in accordance with a cashless exercise program established by
        the Committee in its sole discretion under which either (A) if so
        instructed by the optionee, shares may be issued directly to the
        optionee's broker or dealer upon receipt of the purchase price in cash
        from the broker or dealer, or (B) shares may be issued by the Company to
        an optionee's broker or dealer in consideration of such broker's or
        dealer's irrevocable commitment to pay to the Company that portion of
        the proceeds from the sale of such shares that is equal to the exercise
        price of the option(s) relating to such shares, or
 
             (E) in such other manner as permitted by the Committee at the time
        of grant or thereafter.
 
          No optionee shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a
     shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to his or her
     option until he or she has given written notice of exercise of his or her
     option and paid in full for such shares.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   37
 
          (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole
     discretion, grant to a grantee of an option the right (hereinafter referred
     to as a "stock appreciation right") to elect, in the manner described
     below, in lieu of exercising his or her option for all or a portion of the
     shares of Common Stock covered by such option, to relinquish his or her
     option with respect to any or all of such shares and to receive from the
     Company a payment having a value equal to the amount by which (a) the fair
     market value, as determined in accordance with Paragraph 6(a), of a share
     of Common Stock on the date of such election, multiplied by the number of
     shares as to which the grantee shall have made such election, exceeds (b)
     the total exercise price for that number of shares of Common Stock under
     the terms of such option; provided, however, that to the extent that a
     stock appreciation right is exercised by a Participant who is or may be
     subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
     (the "Exchange Act"), during the ten-day election period described in Rule
     16b-3(e) of the Exchange Act, the amount described in Paragraph 6(f)(a)
     next above shall be equal to the highest fair market value of the shares of
     Common Stock during such ten-day election period. A stock appreciation
     right shall be exercisable at the time the tandem option is exercisable,
     and the "expiration date" for the stock appreciation right shall be the
     expiration date for the tandem option. A grantee who makes such an election
     shall receive payment in the sole discretion of the Committee (i) in cash
     equal to such excess; or (ii) in the nearest whole number of shares of
     Common Stock of the Company having an aggregate fair market value, as
     determined in accordance with Paragraph 6(a), which is not greater than the
     cash amount calculated in (i) above; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii)
     above. A stock appreciation right may be exercised only when the amount
     described in (a) above exceeds the amount described in (b) above. An
     election to exercise stock appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been
     made on the day written notice of such election, addressed to the
     Committee, is received at the Company's offices. An option or any portion
     thereof with respect to which a grantee has elected to exercise the stock
     appreciation rights described above shall be surrendered to the Company and
     such option shall thereafter remain exercisable according to its terms only
     with respect to the number of shares as to which it would otherwise be
     exercisable, less the number of shares with respect to which stock
     appreciation rights have been exercised. The grant of a stock appreciation
     right shall be evidenced by such form of Agreement as the Committee may
     prescribe. The Agreement evidencing stock appreciation rights shall be
     personal and will provide that the stock appreciation rights will not be
     transferable by the grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
     and distribution and that they will be exercisable, during the lifetime of
     the grantee, only by him or her.
 
          (g) Except as provided in the Agreement, an option may be exercised
     only if at all times during the period beginning with the date of the
     granting of the option and ending on the date of such exercise, the grantee
     was an employee of either the Company or of a subsidiary of the Company or
     of another corporation referred to in Section 421(a)(2) of the Code. The
     Agreement shall provide whether, and if so, to what extent, an option may
     be exercised after termination of continuous employment, but any such
     exercise shall in no event be later than the termination date of the
     option. If the grantee should die, or become permanently disabled as
     determined by the Committee in accordance with the Agreement, at any time
     when the option, or any portion thereof, shall be exercisable by him or
     her, the option will be exercisable within a period provided for in the
     Agreement, by the optionee or person or persons to whom his or her rights
     under the option shall have passed by will or by the laws of
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   38
 
     descent and distribution, but in no event at a date later than the
     termination of the option. The Committee may require medical evidence of
     permanent disability, including medical examinations by physicians selected
     by it.
 
          (h) The option by its terms shall be personal and shall not be
     transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of
     descent and distribution as provided in Paragraph 6(g) above. During the
     lifetime of an optionee, the option shall be exercisable only by the
     optionee. In the event any option is exercised by the executors,
     administrators, heirs or distributees of the estate of a deceased optionee
     as provided in Paragraph 6(g) above, the Company shall be under no
     obligation to issue Common Stock thereunder unless and until the Company is
     satisfied that the person or persons exercising the option are the duly
     appointed legal representative of the deceased optionee's estate or the
     proper legatees or distributees thereof.
 
          (i) Notwithstanding any intent to grant incentive stock options, an
     option granted will not be considered an incentive stock option to the
     extent that it together with any earlier incentive stock options permits
     the exercise for the first time in any calendar year of more than $100,000
     in fair market value of Common Stock (determined in accordance with
     Paragraph 6(a) at the time of grant).
 
          (j) The Committee may, but need not, require such consideration from
     an optionee at the time of granting an option as it shall determine, either
     in lieu of, or in addition to, the limitations on exercisability provided
     in Paragraph 6(e).
 
          (k) No incentive stock option shall be granted to an employee who owns
     or would own immediately before the grant of such option, directly or
     indirectly, stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting
     power of all classes of stock of the Company. This restriction does not
     apply if, at the time such incentive stock option is granted, the option
     price is at least 110% of the fair market value of one share of Common
     Stock, as determined in accordance with Paragraph 6(a), on the date of
     grant and the incentive stock option by its terms is not exercisable after
     the expiration of five years from the date of grant.
 
          (l) An option and any Common Stock received upon the exercise of an
     option shall be subject to such other transfer restrictions and/or
     legending requirements that are specified in the Agreement.
 
     7.  Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Awards.  All awards of
restricted stock under the Plan shall be subject to all the applicable
provisions of the Plan, including the following terms and conditions, and to
such other terms and conditions not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee
shall determine.
 
   
          (a) Awards of restricted stock may be in addition to or in lieu of
     option grants. No more than an aggregate of 500,000 shares of restricted
     stock may be granted under this Plan.
    
 
   
          (b) During a period set by, and/or until the attainment of particular
     performance goals based upon criteria established by, the Committee at the
     time of each award of restricted stock (the "restriction period") as
     specified in the Agreement, the recipient shall not be permitted to sell,
     transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the shares of restricted stock;
     except that such shares may be used, if the Agreement permits, to pay the
     option price of any option granted under the Plan provided an equal number
     of shares delivered to the recipient shall carry the same restrictions as
     the shares so used.
    
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   39
 
          (c) If so provided in the Agreement, shares of restricted stock shall
     become free of all restrictions if (i) the recipient dies, (ii) the
     recipient's employment terminates by reason of permanent disability, as
     determined by the Committee, (iii) the recipient retires under specific
     circumstances set forth in the Agreement, or (iv) there is a "change in
     control" of the Company (as defined in the Agreement). The Committee may
     require medical evidence of permanent disability, including medical
     examinations by physicians selected by it. If the Committee determines that
     any such recipient is not permanently disabled, the restricted stock held
     by such recipient shall be forfeited and revert to the Company.
 
          (d) Unless and to the extent otherwise provided in the Agreement in
     accordance with Paragraph 7(c) hereof, shares of restricted stock shall be
     forfeited and revert to the Company upon the recipient's termination of
     employment during the restriction period, except to the extent the
     Committee, in its sole discretion, finds that such forfeiture might not be
     in the best interest of the Company and, therefore, waives all or part of
     the application of this provision to the restricted stock held by such
     recipient.
 
          (e) Stock certificates for restricted stock shall be registered in the
     name of the recipient but shall be appropriately legended and returned to
     the Company by the recipient, together with a stock power, endorsed in
     blank by the recipient. The recipient shall be entitled to vote shares of
     restricted stock and shall be entitled to all dividends paid thereon,
     except that dividends paid in Common Stock or other property shall also be
     subject to the same restrictions.
 
          (f) Restricted stock shall become free of the foregoing restrictions
     upon expiration of the applicable restriction period and the Company shall
     then deliver Common Stock certificates evidencing such stock to the
     recipient.
 
          (g) Restricted stock and any Common Stock received upon the expiration
     of the restriction period shall be subject to such other transfer
     restrictions and/or legending requirements that are specified in the
     Agreement.
 
     8.  Bonuses Payable in Stock.  In lieu of cash bonuses otherwise payable
under the Company's or applicable subsidiary's compensation practices to
employees eligible to participate in the Plan, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may determine that such bonuses shall be payable in Common Stock or
partly in Common Stock and partly in cash. Such bonuses shall be in
consideration of services previously performed and as an incentive toward future
services and shall consist of shares of Common Stock subject to such terms as
the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. The number of shares of
Common Stock payable in lieu of a bonus otherwise payable shall be determined by
dividing such amount by the fair market value of one share of Common Stock on
the date the bonus is payable, with fair market value determined as of such date
in accordance with Paragraph 6(a).
 
     9.  Change in Control.
 
          (a) In the event of a change in control of the Company, as defined by
     the Committee in the Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
     provide that any of the following applicable actions be taken as a result,
     or in anticipation, of any such event to assure fair and equitable
     treatment of Participants:
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   40
 
             (i) accelerate restriction periods for purposes of vesting in, or
        realizing gain from, any outstanding option or shares of restricted
        stock awarded pursuant to this Plan;
 
             (ii) offer to purchase any outstanding option or shares of
        restricted stock made pursuant to this Plan from the holder for its
        equivalent cash value, as determined by the Committee, as of the date of
        the change in control; or
 
             (iii) make adjustments or modifications to outstanding options or
        with respect to restricted stock as the Committee deems appropriate to
        maintain and protect the rights and interests of the Participants
        following such change in control.
 
     Any such action approved by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding
on the Company, its subsidiaries and all Participants.
 
          (b) In no event, however, may (i) any option be exercised prior to the
     expiration of six (6) months from the date of grant (unless otherwise
     provided for in the Agreement), or (ii) any option be exercised after ten
     (10) years from the date it was granted.
 
     10.  Transfer, Leave of Absence.  For the purpose of the Plan: (a) a
transfer of an employee from the Company to a subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company, whether or not incorporated, or vice versa, or from one subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company to another, and (b) a leave of absence, duly authorized
in writing by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, shall not
be deemed a termination of employment.
 
     11.  Rights of Employees.
 
          (a) No person shall have any rights or claims under the Plan except in
     accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the Agreement.
 
          (b) Nothing contained in the Plan or Agreement shall be deemed to give
     any employee the right to be retained in the service of the Company or its
     subsidiaries.
 
     12.  Tax Withholding Obligations.
 
          (a) If required by applicable law, the payment of taxes, upon the
     exercise of an option pursuant to Paragraph 6(e) or a stock appreciation
     right pursuant to Paragraph 6(f), shall be in cash at the time of exercise
     or on the applicable tax date under Section 83 of the Code, if later;
     provided, however, tax withholding obligations may be met by the
     withholding of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the optionee pursuant
     to procedures approved by the Committee; provided, further, however, the
     amount of Common Stock so withheld shall not exceed the minimum required
     withholding obligation.
 
          (b) If required by applicable law, recipients of restricted stock,
     pursuant to Paragraph 7, shall be required to pay taxes to the Company upon
     the expiration of restriction periods or such earlier dates as elected
     pursuant to Section 83 of the Code; provided, however, tax withholding
     obligations may be met by the withholding of Common Stock otherwise
     deliverable to the recipient pursuant to procedures approved by the
     Committee. If tax withholding is required by applicable law, in no event
     shall Common Stock be delivered to any awardee until he has paid to the
     Company in cash the amount of such tax required to be withheld by the
     Company or has elected to have his withholding obligations met by the
     withholding of Common Stock in
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   41
 
     accordance with the procedures approved by the Committee or otherwise
     entered into an agreement satisfactory to the Company providing for payment
     of withholding tax.
 
          (c) The Company shall first withhold from any cash bonus described in
     Paragraph 8, an amount of cash sufficient to meet its tax withholding
     obligations before the amount of Common Stock paid in accordance with
     Paragraph 8 is determined.
 
     13.  Changes in Capital; Reorganization.  (a) Upon changes in the
outstanding Common Stock after the Second Closing Date by reason of a stock
dividend, stock split, reverse split, subdivision, recapitalization, an
extraordinary dividend payable in cash or property, combination or exchange of
shares, separation, reorganization or liquidation, and the like, the aggregate
number and class of shares available under the Plan as to which stock options
and restricted stock may be awarded, the number and class of shares under (i)
each option and the option price per share and (ii) each award of restricted
stock shall, in each case, be correspondingly adjusted by the Committee, such
adjustments to be made in the case of outstanding options without change in the
total price applicable to such options.
 
          (b) In the event (i) the Company is merged or consolidated with
     another corporation and the Company is not the surviving corporation, or
     the Company shall be the surviving corporation and there shall be any
     change in the Common Stock of the Company by reason of such merger or
     consolidation, or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of the
     Company are acquired by another corporation, or (iii) there is a
     reorganization or liquidation of the Company (each such event being
     hereinafter referred to as a "Reorganization Event"), or (iv) the Board of
     Directors of the Company shall propose that the Company enter into a
     Reorganization Event, then the Board (acting solely through members of the
     Board who were members of the Board prior to the occurrence of the
     Reorganization Event) may in its discretion take any or all of the
     following actions:
 
             (A) by written notice to the holders of stock options or restricted
        stock awards, provide that the stock options or restricted stock awards
        shall be terminated unless exercised within thirty days (or such longer
        period as the Board shall determine in its discretion) after the date of
        such notice; and
 
             (B) advance the dates upon which any or all outstanding stock
        options and restricted stock awards granted shall be exercisable.
 
     Whenever deemed appropriate by the Board, any action referred to in this
Section 13(b) may be made conditional upon the consummation of the applicable
Reorganization Event.
 
          (c) Any adjustments or other action pursuant to this Section 13 shall
     be made by the Board and the Board's determination as to what adjustments
     shall be made or actions taken, and the extent thereof, shall be final and
     binding.
 
     14.  Miscellaneous Provisions.
 
          (a) The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to
     establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of
     assets to assure the issuance of shares or the payment of cash upon
     exercise of any option or stock appreciation right under the Plan. Proceeds
     from the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to options granted under
     this Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company. The expenses of
     the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   42
 
          (b) It is understood that the Committee may, at any time and from time
     to time after the granting of an option or the award of restricted stock or
     bonuses payable in Common Stock hereunder, specify such additional terms,
     conditions and restrictions with respect to such option or stock as may be
     deemed necessary or appropriate to ensure compliance with any and all
     applicable laws, including, but not limited to, terms, restrictions and
     conditions for compliance with federal and state securities laws and
     methods of withholding or providing for the payment of required taxes.
 
          (c) If at any time the Committee shall determine, in its discretion,
     that the listing, registration or qualification of shares of Common Stock
     upon any national securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or
     the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary
     or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the sale or purchase
     of shares of Common Stock hereunder, no option may be exercised or
     restricted stock or stock bonus may be transferred in whole or in part
     unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or
     approval shall have been effected or obtained, or otherwise provided for,
     free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.
 
          (d) By accepting any benefit under the Plan, each Participant and each
     person claiming under or through such Participant shall be conclusively
     deemed to have indicated his acceptance and ratification, and consent to,
     any action taken under the Plan by the Committee, the Company or the Board.
 
          (e) The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
     laws of the State of New York.
 
     15.  Limits of Liability.
 
          (a) Any liability of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company to any
     Participant with respect to any option or award shall be based solely upon
     contractual obligations created by the Plan and the Agreement.
 
          (b) Neither the Company nor a subsidiary of the Company, nor any
     member of the Committee or the Board, nor any other person participating in
     any determination of any question under the Plan, or in the interpretation,
     administration or application of the Plan, shall have any liability to any
     party for any action taken or not taken in connection with the Plan, except
     as may expressly be provided by statute.
 
     16.  Amendments and Termination.  The Board may, at any time, amend, alter
or discontinue the Plan; provided, however, no amendment, alteration or
discontinuation shall be made which, without the approval of the shareholders,
would:
 
          (a) except as is provided in Paragraph 13, increase the maximum number
     of shares of Common Stock reserved for the purpose of the Plan;
 
          (b) except as is provided in Paragraph 13, decrease the option price
     of an option to less than 100% of the fair market value, as determined in
     accordance with Paragraph 6(a), of a share of Common Stock on the date of
     the granting of the option;
 
          (c) change the class of persons eligible to receive an award of
     restricted stock, options or bonuses payable in Common Stock under the
     Plan; or
 
          (d) extend the duration of the Plan.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   43
 
     The Committee may amend the terms of any award of restricted stock or
option theretofore granted, retroactively or prospectively, but no such
amendment shall impair the rights of any holder without his or her written
consent.
 
     17.  Duration.  The Plan shall be adopted by the Board as of the date on
which it is approved by a majority of the Company's stockholders, which approval
must occur within the period ending twelve months after the date the Plan is
adopted. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of the following dates or
events to occur:
 
          (a) the adoption of a resolution of the Board, terminating the Plan;
     or
 
          (b) the date all shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan are
     purchased according to the Plan's provisions; or
 
          (c) ten years from the Second Closing Date.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   44
 
                            [MARINE TRANSPORT LOGO]
 
   
                          Marine Transport Corporation
    
 
                                   Notice of
                                 Annual Meeting
                                      and
                                Proxy Statement
 
                                 Annual Meeting
                                of Stockholders
 
   
                                  May 4, 1999
    
                                   9:00 A.M.
                               The Model Room of
                            The New York Yacht Club,
                              37 West 44th Street,
                               New York, New York
<PAGE>   45
                          MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                        OF MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION

     The undersigned stockholder hereby appoints Richard T. du Moulin and Mark
L. Filanowski or either of them each with power of substitution, as proxy or
proxies for the undersigned, to attend the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of
Marine Transport Corporation (the "Company"), to be held at 9:00 a.m., local
time, on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at The Model Room of The New York Yacht Club, 37
West 44th Street, New York, New York, or at any adjournment or adjournments
thereof, and to vote all shares of common stock of the Company owned of record
by the undersigned at the close of business on April 1, 1999, hereby revoking
any proxy or proxies heretofore given and ratifying and confirming all that said
proxies may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof, for the purposes more fully
described in the accompanying Proxy Statement, and in their discretion, on other
matters which properly come before the meeting:

          (Continued and to be Signed and Dated on the Reverse Side.)
<PAGE>   46
                                 FOR                      WITHHOLD
                        all nominees listed below         AUTHORITY
                            (except as marked      to vote for all nominees
                             to the contrary)           listed below
(A) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS        [  ]                       [  ]  
    (Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for
    any individual nominee, strike a line through the
    nominee's name in the list below.)



Nominees: Brent D. Baird       Mark L. Filanowski
          Jonathan Blank       Stanley B. Rich

(B) APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS          FOR      AGAINST     ABSTAIN
    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS                         [ ]        [ ]         [ ]

(C) AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED        FOR      AGAINST     ABSTAIN
    CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF MARINE       [ ]        [ ]         [ ]
    TRANSPORT CORPORATION BY WHICH THE NUMBER
    OF DIRECTORS CONSTITUTING THE BOARD OF
    DIRECTORS WOULD NOT BE LESS THAN FIVE
    NOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN


(D) AMENDMENT TO THE MARINE TRANSPORT            FOR      AGAINST     ABSTAIN
    CORPORATION 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR       [ ]        [ ]         [ ]
    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS INCREASING THE
    TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER
    THE PLAN TO 150,000

(E) AMENDMENT TO THE MARINE TRANSPORT            FOR      AGAINST     ABSTAIN
    CORPORATION 1998 INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN       [ ]        [ ]         [ ]
    INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES
    ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN TO  825,000
    AND CERTAIN OTHER AMENDMENTS AS
    DESCRIBED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY
    STATEMENT

(F) IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE         FOR      AGAINST     ABSTAIN
    AUTHORIZED TO VOTE ON OTHER MATTERS          [ ]        [ ]         [ ]
    WHICH PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING
    OR ANY ADJOURNMENT OR ADJOURNMENTS
    THEREOF.

UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED ABOVE OR UNLESS THIS PROXY IS REVOKED, THE SHARES
REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES, FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND FOR THE AMENDMENTS TO THE (A) AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION (B) MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION 1998 STOCK OPTION
PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS AND (C) MARINE TRANSPORT CORPORATION 1998
INCENTIVE EQUITY PLAN.


Signature(s)                                                Date
            ------------------------------------------------    ----------------
(IMPORTANT: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on the label
affixed hereto, and when signing as an attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, give your full title as such. If the signatory is a
corporation, sign the full corporate name by duly authorized officer, or if a
partnership, sign in partnership name by authorized person.)


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission