FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of July 2002 NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED (Translation of registrant's name into English) Cedar House 41 Cedar Avenue Hamilton HMEX Bermuda (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F X Form 40-F ----- Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes No X ----- ----- INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT Attached hereto is a copy of an earnings release issued by Nordic American Tanker Shipping Limited (the "Company") on July 8, 2002. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BP Amoco Plc files annual reports on Form 20-F (File No. 1-6262) and periodic reports on Form 6-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. [LOGO] Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd. (NAT) - (AMEX: NAT) -------------------------------------------------------- (OSE: NAT) announces good results and dividend payment despite -------------------------------------------------------------- low tanker markets ------------------ As of 06/30/02 (per 2nd quarter 2002) NAT had an operating profit of $3.6 m as against $7.9 m during the same period last year. The net profit per June 30, 2002 was $2.8 m as against $7.2 m in the same period last year. The decrease in the earnings in the first half of 2002 compared to the same period in year 2001 is a result of spot tanker rates having been high during the first half of year 2001. The result for the 2nd quarter 2002, enables the company to pay a 3rd quarter 2002 dividend of $0.33 per share. Including the dividend for the 3rd quarter of 2002, the total dividend paid so far in 2002 is $1.03 per share. The total dividend paid in 2001 was $3.87 per share. In year 2000 the company paid a total dividend of $2.56 per share as against $1.35 per share in 1999. The 3rd quarter 2002 dividend of $0.33 will be paid on or about August 15th to shareholders of record as of July 26th 2002. The next dividend payment from NAT will be declared in October 2002. Under the contracts with BP Shipping, NAT achieves rates that correspond to the spot market for modern Suezmax tankers, but not below $ 22,000 per day (T/C equivalent), which is the agreed minimum rate with BP Shipping. The spot market for Suezmax tankers in the second quarter of 2002 (not the NAT vessels) was below the agreed minimum rate with the charterer BP Shipping. The spot market rate in the second quarter was at the same level as the first quarter of 2002. The 2nd quarter 2002 time charter (T/C) equivalent for the NAT vessel was the agreed minimum rate of $22,000 which was the same as in the first quarter of 2002. The contracts for the NAT vessels are drawn up in a way that secures income 365 days a year for the vessels and no off-hire. The contracts with BP Shipping commenced on October 1, 1997 and run for minimum 7 years and maximum 14 years if all options are declared. The quarterly T/C equivalent for the NAT vessels has since 1999 been as follows: Period 1999 2000 2001 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Quarter 22,000 26,079 51,607 22,000 2nd Quarter 22,000 33,701 35,088 22,000 3rd Quarter 22,000 48,153 28,668 4th Quarter 22,000 59,059 22,617 NAT has 9.706.606 shares in issue. The results for the first quarter of 2002 compared to the same quarter last year, the last quarter of 2001 and the full year of 2001, are as follows: INCOME STATEMENT INFORMATION Allfigures in USD 1/1-6/30 1/1-6/30 2nd Qtr. 2nd Qtr. All 2002 2001 2002 2001 2001 --------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- Revenue 7330500 11 678940 3685500 7258087 28359568 Ship Broker Commissions (91631) (92 137) (46069) (46069) (184781) Management Fee Expense (125000) (125000) (62500) (62500) (250000) Insurance Expense (42000) (42500) (21000) (17499) (72333) Other Expenses (18356) (10260) (2505) (14536) (31406) Depreciation (3415 520) (3415 520) (1 707760) (1707760) (6831 040) ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- Net Operating Income 3637992 7993523 1 845665 5409723 20990008 Financial Income 11468 108207 5326 55232 189244 Financial Expenses (882348) (889556) (451 938) (443538) (1 793776) ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- Net Financial Items (870880) (781 349) (446611) (388306) (1 604532) ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- Net Profit 2767113 7212174 1399054 5021417 19385476 ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- Earnings per Share 0,29 0,74 0,14 0,52 2,00 Cash Flow per Share 0,64 1,09 0,32 0,69 2,70 The quarterly dividend paid since the commencement in 1997 has been as follows: Period 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------- 1st Quarter 0.40 0.32 0.34 1.41 0.36 2nd Quarter 0.41 0.32 0.45 1.19 0.34 3rd Quarter 0.32 0.35 0.67 0.72 0.33 4th Quarter 0.30 0.30 0.36 1.10 0.55 ---------------------------------------------------------- Total USD 0.30 1.43 1.35 2.56 3.87 ---------------------------------------------------------- Balance sheet for Nordic American Tanker Shipping Ltd per 6.30.02 and 12.31.01 (Figures in USD) 6.30.02 12.31.01 Vessels 138,328,485 141,744,005 Current assets 64,195 283,615 Cash deposits 229,626 630,868 ------------------------------------------------------ Total assets 138,622,306 142,658,488 ------------------------------------------------------ Shareholder's equity 108,592,261 112,619,822 Long term debt 30,000,000 30,000,000 Current liabilities 30,045 38,666 ------------------------------------------------------ Total liabilities & equity 138,622,306 142,658,488 ------------------------------------------------------ Ugland Nordic Shipping AS (UNS), domiciled in Norway and holding 10.3 % of the shares in NAT, is the manager of NAT. Sandefjord, Norway, July 8, 2002 Contacts: Herbj0rn Hansson or Niels Erik Feilberg Ugland Nordic Shipping AS, Norway Tel: (47)-33-42 15 00, Fax: (47)-33-42 15 45 Or Gary J. Wolfe Seward & Kissel, New York, USA Tel: (1) 212-574-1223, Fax: (1) 212-480-8421 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. NORDIC AMERICAN TANKER SHIPPING LIMITED (registrant) Dated: July 8, 2002 By:/s/ Herbjorn Hansson -------------------------- Herbjorn Hansson President and Chief Executive Officer 01318.0002 #335730