<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): August 7, 1996
MARITRANS INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-9063 51-0343903 (I.R.S. Employer
(Commission File No.) Identification No.)
One Logan Square, Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19103
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(215) 864-1200
(Registrant's Telephone Number , Including Area Code)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On August 7, 1996, Maritrans Inc. and its subsidiary Maritrans
Operating Partners L.P. (together, "Maritrans") filed suit against the
United States government under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution for taking 37 of Maritrans' tank barges without just
compensation. Maritrans Inc. et. al. v. United States of America, U.S.
Ct. Cl. (No. 96- 483 C, Aug. 7, 1996). Maritrans asserts that the
vessels were taken with the passage of Section 4115 of the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and that this taking was done in
contravention of the Fifth Amendment, which specifically prohibits the
United States government from taking private property for public use
without just compensation.
Maritrans is seeking in excess of $200 million in compensation based on
the fact that Maritrans has been deprived of its reasonable
investment-backed expectation in the continued use of its barges by
Section 4115 of OPA 90, which prohibits all existing single-hull tank
vessels from operating in U.S. waters under a retirement schedule which
began January 1, 1995, and ends on January 1, 2015. Under this OPA 90
provision, Maritrans' single-hull tank barges will be forced from
service commencing on January 1, 2003, with a significant portion of
their economic lives remaining, or be required to be retrofitted. A
more detailed discussion of the effects of OPA 90 is contained in the
Annual Report on form 10-K of Maritrans Inc. for the year ended
December 31, 1995.
1
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on August 22, 1996.
Maritrans Inc.
By:
/s/ Thomas C. Deas, Jr.
- -------------------------------
Thomas C. Deas, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer
2
