03-072P

Award 11.06.03

FFE Cargoes to Nicaragua / Project Concern International Booking Details as 
follows:

IFB No. NI-PCI-416B-03-072P
Vessel Owner: America Cargo Transport
Vessel: U.S. Flag Barge "DELAWARE TRADER"
U.S. Flag Tug "PATHFINDER"

Cargo: A. 20 NMT Corn Soy Milk at $157.00 per MT
B. 70 NMT Corn Soy Milk at $192.00 per MT
C. 30 NMT Small Red Beans at $157.00 per MT
D. 80 NMT Vegetable Oil at $155.00 per MT
E. 90 NMT Yellow Corn at $157.00 per MT
F. 40 NMT Milled Rice at $157.00 per MT

Regards,
Sherry Sons
Universal Shipping Co.

Tender 10-30-03

Freight Tender: Project Concern – Global Food For Education Cargoes to Nicaragua

UNIVERSAL SHIPPING CO., INC. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF PROJECT CONCERN INTERNATIONAL REQUESTS OFFERS OF U.S. AND NON U.S. FLAG OFFERS FOR CARRIAGE OF THE FOLLOWING CARGOES, VIA THROUGH BILL OF LADING, THROUGH THE GLOBAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION INITIATIVE, UNDER SECTION 416(B) – INVITATION NO. 103A:

IFB NO. NI-PCI-416B-03-072P

1.    A.         COMMODITY:              CORN SOY MILK IN 25 KG BAGS  
                    CARGO:             20 NET METRIC TONS  
                    LOADPORT:                JACINTOPORT, TX  
                    FINAL DESTINATION:      JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA         
                    CARGO AVAILABILITY:      DECEMBER 25, 2003

B.    COMMODITY:              CORN SOY MILK IN 25 KG BAGS  
                    CARGO:             70 NET METRIC TONS
                    LOADPORT:                NEW ORLEANS, LA  
                    FINAL DESTINATION:      JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA  
                    CARGO AVAILABILITY:      DECEMBER 25, 2003

      C.         COMMODITY:              SMALL RED BEANS IN 50 KG BAGS  
                    CARGO:             30 NET METRIC TONS  
                    LOADPORT:                LAKE CHARLES, LA  
                    FINAL DESTINATION:      JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA  
                    CARGO AVAILABILITY:      JANUARY 10, 2004

        D.    COMMODITY:              VEGETABLE OIL IN 6/4 LITER CANS  
                    CARGO:             80 NET METRIC TONS  
                    LOADPORT:                LAKE CHARLES, LA  
                    FINAL DESTINATION:      JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA  
                    CARGO AVAILABILITY:      DECEMBER 25, 2003

      E.         COMMODITY:              YELLOW CORN IN 50 KG BAGS  
                    CARGO:             90 NET METRIC TONS  
                    LOADPORT:                JACINTOPORT, TX  
                    FINAL DESTINATION:      JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA  
                    CARGO AVAILABILITY:      DECEMBER 22, 2003

      F.         COMMODITY:              MILLED RICE IN 50 KG BAGS  
                    CARGO:             40 NET METRIC TONS  
                    LOADPORT:                LAKE CHARLES, LA  
                    FINAL DESTINATION:      JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA  
                    CARGO AVAILABILITY:      DECEMBER 25, 2003

2.    CARGO IS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE RECEIVERS WAREHOUSE, IN THE ABOVE REFERENCED CITY, WITHIN NICARAGUA UNDER THROUGH BILL(S) OF LADING AT OWNER’S TIME, RISK AND EXPENSE.  CARGO IS TO BE UNLOADED AND STACKED IN RECEIVER’S WAREHOUSE AT FINAL DESTINATION POINT AT OWNER’S TIME, RISK AND EXPENSE.  CARRIERS TO ARRANGE ALL CUSTOMS CLEARANCE AND FORMALITIES AND PASSAGE AT THE DISCHARGE PORT AND FORMALITIES AT ALL POINTS OF ENTRY AT CARRIERS EXPENSE.  ALL NECESSARY SECURITY MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO INSURE SAFE ARRIVAL OF PROJECT CONCERN’S CARGOES AT THE RESPECTIVE WAREHOUSES. 

3.    TERMS:  FULL BERTH TERMS, ALL INCLUSIVE.  NO DEMURRAGE/NO  DESPATCH/NO DETENTION ON VESSELS, CONTAINERS, TRAILERS, TRUCKS AND/OR RAILCARS BENDS.

4.    CARGO IS TO BE FUMIGATED AT OWNER’S EXPENSE.

5.    THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL CONTAINERS:

A) MINIMUM CONTAINER LOAD REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE  ACCEPTED.

B) CARGO IS TO BE STUFFED INTO CONTAINERS AT OWNER’S TIME,  RISK AND EXPENSE. CARRIER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STRIPPING CARGO FROM CONTAINER AND STACKING IN RECEIVER’S WAREHOUSES AT CARRIER’S TIME, RISK AND EXPENSE. IT IS CARRIERS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR STRIPPING (UNSTUFFING) OF CONTAINERS AT FINAL DESTINATIONS.

C) CONTAINER SHALL BE INSPECTED PRIOR TO LOADING AND AN INSPECTION CERTIFICATE OBTAINED WHICH ENSURES THAT THE CONTAINER IS CLEAN, DRY, FREE OF INSECT INFESTATION AND ODOR, AND IS IN CONDITION TO LOAD AND CARRY FOOD COMMODITIES.

D) CARRIER MUST CERTIFY THAT EACH CONTAINER UTILIZED TO LOAD 

   THESE CARGOES IS:

            (1)      IN WIND AND WATER TIGHT CONDITION; 
            (2)       NOT MORE THAN TEN (10) YEARS OLD; 
            (3)       NOT A SALVAGED CONTAINER OR MUSTERED OUT FROM REGULAR SERVICE.    AS A CONDITION OF PAYMENT, CARRIER MUST PROVIDE TO UNIVERSAL SHIPPING CO. A SURVEY REPORT ATTESTING TO THE SATISFACTORY CONDITION OF CONTAINERS. SURVEY IS TO BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO LOADING THESE CARGOES.

      E) COSTS FOR ALL CONTAINER INSPECTIONS SHALL BE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE OCEAN CARRIER.

6.      OFFERS FROM NVOCC’S WILL BE CONSIDERED AS NON-RESPONSIVE.

7.    NON U.S. FLAG VESSELS MUST BE REGISTERED IN LLOYDS OR

EQUIVALENT AND SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD.

8.      VESSEL’S DETAILED ITINERARY AND CURRENT POSITION IS TO BE STATED IN OFFER AND SHOULD PROVIDE ESTIMATED SAILING DATE FROM LOADPORT, AND ESTIMATED ETA AT DISCHARGE PORT.

9.    OFFER TO PROVIDE BREAKDOWN OF FREIGHT RATE AS FOLLOWS:

A) OCEAN TRANSPORTATION, B) INLAND TRANSPORTATION (BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN), C) STACKING OF THE CARGO AT RECEIVER’S WAREHOUSE, D) FUMIGATION COSTS.

10.  FREIGHT PAYMENT WILL BE EFFECTED AS FOLLOWS:

(A) 65 PERCENT OF FREIGHT WILL BE PAYABLE UPON NOTICE SATISFACTORY TO CHARTERERS OF VESSEL’S ARRIVAL AT FIRST PORT OF DISCHARGE, WHICH NOTICE WILL BE PART OF THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO BE PRESENTED BY CARRIER AS A CONDITION OF PAYMENT.

(B) 35 PERCENT OF FREIGHT WILL BE PAYABLE UPON CONFIRMATION FROM CHARTERERS THAT OWNERS HAVE FULFILLED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS CHARTER PARTY.

11.   ISM CODE: OWNERS GUARANTEE THAT THIS VESSEL COMPLIES FULLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT (ISM) CODE, IF REQUIRED, AND IS IN POSSESSION OF A VALID DOCUMENT OF COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE AND WILL REMAIN SO FOR THE ENTIRETY OF HER EMPLOYMENT UNDER THIS BOOKING 

NOTE.  OWNERS ARE TO PROVIDE CHARTERERS WITH SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE IF REQUIRED TO DO SO AND TO REMAIN FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL CONSEQUENCES RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM ANY MATTER ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS VESSEL AND THE ISM CODE.

12.       SUBSTANDARD VESSELS: SECTION 408 OF THE COAST GUARD

AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998, PUBLIC LAW 105-383 (46 USC PARAGRAPH 2302(E)), ESTABLISHES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1999,  WITH RESPECT TO NON-US FLAG VESSELS AND OPERATORS/OWNERS, THAT SUBSTANDARD VESSELS AND VESSELS OPERATED BY OPERATORS/OWNERS OF SUBSTANDARD VESSELS ARE PROHIBITED FROM THE CARRIAGE OF GOVERNMENT IMPELLED (PREFERENCE)CARGO(ES) FOR UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER SUCH SUBSTANDARD DETERMINATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ELECTRONICALLY.  AS THE CARGO ADVERTISED IN THIS IFB IS A GOVERNMENT IMPELLED (PREFERENCE) CARGO, OFFERORS MUST WARRANT THAT VESSEL(S) AND OWNERS/OPERATORS ARE NOT DISQUALIFIED TO CARRY SUCH GOVERNMENT IMPELLED (PREFERENCE) CARGO(ES).

13.      CARRIERS SHALL INCLUDE ALL ACTUAL AND ANTICIPATED WAR RISK INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN THEIR OFFERED RATES. OWNER BEARS THE RISK OF ANY INCREASE IN WAR RISK INSURANCE PREMIUMS."

14.   A BROKERAGE COMMISSION IS PAYABLE BY OWNERS ON GROSS FREIGHT, DEADFREIGHT, AND DEMURRAGE.  TWO-THIRDS OF 2.5 PERCENT TO BE PAID TO UNIVERSAL SHIPPING AND ONE-THIRD OF 2.5 PERCENT TO BE PAID TO OWNERS' BROKER, IF OWNER'S BROKER IS INVOLVED IN THE VESSEL FIXTURE, OR A FULL 2.5 PERCENT TO BE PAID TO UNIVERSAL SHIPPING IF THE VESSEL FIXTURE IS ARRANGED WITHOUT OWNERS' BROKER.

15.       FURTHER DETAILS AND ADDITIONAL TERMS ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PROJECT CONCERN’S BAGGED CARGOES/THROUGH BILL OF LADING GFEI/NICARAGUA PROFORMA BOOKING NOTE (OCTOBER 2003) WHICH IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM UNIVERSAL SHIPPING CO.

16.       CHARTERERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY AND/OR ALL OFFERS.

17.   OFFERS ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY SEALED LETTER, OR BY FAX NO. 703-522-9417 AT UNIVERSAL SHIPPING CO., 2300 CLARENDON BLVD., SUITE 1004, ARLINGTON, VA 22201 NO LATER THAN 1400 HOURS WASHINGTON, D.C. TIME MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2003.