UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )*
NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.01 par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
G65773106
(CUSIP Number)
Alan M. Stark
80 Main Street
West Orange, New Jersey 07052
(201)325-8660
(Name Address, and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive
Notices and Communications)
September 30, 1997
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If this filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule
13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule
13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4)
check the following box [ ].
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement
[ ]. (A fee is not required only if the reporting person: (1) has
a previous statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more
than five percent of the class of securities described in Item 1;
and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent thereto reporting
beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.) (See
Rule 13d-7.) NO LONGER APPLICABLE
Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should
be filed with the Commission. See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties
to whom copies are to be sent.
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the
subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a
prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall
not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all
other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. G65773106
__________________________________________________________________
1) Names of Reporting Person S.S. or I.R.S. Identification
No. of Above Person
LEON G. COOPERMAN
S.S. No. ###-##-####
_________________________________________________________________
2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See
Instructions)
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
_________________________________________________________________
3) SEC Use Only
_________________________________________________________________
4) Source of Funds:
WC
_________________________________________________________________
5) Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required
Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e). . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOT APPLICABLE
_________________________________________________________________
6) Citizenship or place of Organization:
UNITED STATES
_________________________________________________________________
(7) Sole voting Power
Number of 600,100
Shares Bene-
ficially (8) Shared Voting Power
owned by 99,900
Each Report-
ing Person (9) Sole Dispositive Power
With 600,100
(10) Shared Dispositive Power
99,900
_________________________________________________________________
11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting
Person: 700,000
_________________________________________________________________
12) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11)
N/A
_________________________________________________________________
13) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Box (11):
5.9%
_________________________________________________________________
14) Type of Reporting Person
I N
<PAGE>
Item 1. Security and Issuer.
This statement relates to the common stock, $.01 par
value (the "Common Stock" or the "Shares"), of NORDIC AMERICAN
TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED, a Bermuda company ("Company"), which has
its principal executive offices at Cedar House, 41 Cedar Avenue,
Hamilton HM EX, Bermuda.
Item 2. Identity and Background.
This statement is being filed by Leon G. Cooperman,
("Cooperman"). Cooperman is the Managing Member of Omega
Associates, L.L.C. ("Associates"), a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Associates is
a private investment firm formed to invest in and act as general
partner of investment partnerships or similar investment vehicles.
Associates is the general partner of two limited partnerships
organized under the laws of Delaware known as Omega Capital
Partners, L.P. and Omega Institutional Partners, L.P. They are
private investment firms engaged in the purchase and sale of
securities for investment for their own accounts. The business
address of Cooperman and the principal business and office of
Associates, Omega Capital Partners, L.P., and Omega Institutional
Partners, L.P., is c/o Omega Advisors, Inc., 88 Pine Street, Wall
Street Plaza - 31st Floor, New York, New York 10005. Cooperman is
a citizen of the United States.
<PAGE>
Cooperman is also the President and majority
stockholder of Omega Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
engaged in providing investment management. The address of the
principal business and office of Omega Advisors, Inc. is 88 Pine
Street, Wall Street Plaza - 31st Floor, New York, New York 10005.
Omega Advisors, Inc. serves as investment manager to Omega Overseas
Partners, Ltd., and Cooperman is deemed to control said entities.
Omega Overseas Partners, Ltd., is a Cayman Island corporation, with
a business address at British American Tower, Third Floor, Jennrett
Street, Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies.
Omega Advisors, Inc. also serves with discretionary power as
investment manager to unrelated third parties (herein referred to
as the "Managed Account").
Neither Cooperman nor any of the investment entities
controlled by him have, during the last five years, been convicted
in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors), nor has any such person, during the last five years,
been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative
body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which any such person
was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any
violation with respect to such laws.<PAGE>
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
Cooperman beneficially owns 700,000 Shares. Of this
amount, 280,400 Shares were purchased by Omega Capital Partners,
L.P.; 20,900 Shares were purchased by Omega Institutional Partners,
L.P.; 298,800 Shares were purchased by Omega Overseas Partners,
Ltd.; and 99,900 Shares were purchased by the Managed Account. In
September 1995, Cooperman, through his controlled entities,
originally purchased from the Company 700,000 warrants (the
"Warrants") at the initial public offering price of $5.00 per
Warrant. Each Warrant entitled the holder to purchase one Share of
Common Stock. The exercise price of each Warrant was $10.21 and
the Warrants were exercised on September 30, 1997. The source of
funds for the Warrants and the exercise of the Warrants to purchase
the Shares was investment capital.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
Cooperman has acquired the Shares for investment
purposes, and only in the ordinary course of business.
In the ordinary course of business, Cooperman from time
to time evaluates holdings of securities, and based on such
evaluation, he may determine to acquire or dispose of securities of
specific issuers.
Cooperman has no present plans or intentions which would
result in or relate to any of the transactions described
in subparagraphs (a) through (j) of Schedule 13D.<PAGE>
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
Based upon the information ascertained from the Company,
there are currently issued and outstanding 11,813,850 Shares of
Common Stock. Omega Capital Partners, L.P., owns 280,400 Shares,
or 2.4% of those outstanding; Omega Institutional Partners, L.P.,
owns 20,900 Shares, or 0.2% of those outstanding; Omega Overseas
Partners, Ltd., owns 298,800 Shares, or 2.5% of those outstanding;
and the Managed Account owns 99,900 Shares, or 0.8% of those
outstanding. Cooperman possesses sole power to vote and direct the
disposition of all Shares of Common Stock owned by Omega Overseas
Partners, Ltd. As to the 99,900 Shares owned by the Managed
Account, there would be shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of such Shares because the owners of the Managed
Account may be deemed beneficial owner of such Shares pursuant to
Rule 13d-3 under the Act as a result of their right to terminate
the discretionary account within a period of 60 days.
The following details the transactions by each of Omega
Capital Partners, L.P., Omega Institutional Partners, L.P., Omega
Overseas Partners, Ltd., and the Managed Account in shares of
Common Stock within the 60 day period prior to this filing.
On September 30, 1997, Omega Capital Partners, L.P.
exercised 280,400 Warrants at a cost of $10.21 per Warrant and was
issued 280,400 Shares. On September 30, 1997, Omega Institutional
Partners, L.P. exercised 20,900 Warrants at a cost of $10.21 per
Warrant and was issued 20,900 Shares. On September 30, 1997, Omega
Overseas Partners, L.P. exercised 298,800 Warrants at a cost of
$10.21 per Warrant and was issued 298,800 Shares. On September 30,
1997, Omega Advisors, Inc., on behalf of the Managed Account,
exercised 99,900 Warrants at a cost of $10.21 per Warrant and was
issued 99,900 Shares.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships
with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
Except as described above, there are no contracts,
arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise)
among the persons named in Item 2 hereof or between such persons
and any other person with respect to any securities of the Company,
including but not limited to transfer or voting of any other
securities, finder's fees, joint ventures, loan or option
arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, divisions of
profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
There is no material to be filed as Exhibits.
Signature
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the under-
signed's knowledge and belief, the undersigned hereby certifies
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
Dated: October 9, 1997
/s/ Alan M. Stark
ALAN M. STARK on behalf of LEON G.
COOPERMAN, pursuant to Power of
Attorney on file.
/s/ Alan M. Stark
ALAN M. STARK on behalf of LEON G.
COOPERMAN, as Managing Member of
Omega Associates, L.L.C. on behalf
of Omega Capital Partners, L.P.,
pursuant to Power of Attorney on file.
/s/ Alan M. Stark
ALAN M. STARK on behalf of LEON G.
COOPERMAN, as Managing Member of
Omega Associates, L.L.C. on behalf
of Omega Institutional Partners, L.P.,
pursuant to Power of Attorney on file.
/s/ Alan M. Stark
ALAN M. STARK on behalf of LEON G.
COOPERMAN, as President of Omega
Advisors, Inc., pursuant to Power
of Attorney on file.
ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT
CONSTITUTE FEDERAL CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).
