<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997

                                       OR

[  ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

               FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO ________


                         Commission file number 2-86324

                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          California                                    94-2911062
(State or other jurisdiction of                     (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)

         444 Market Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (415) 677-8990
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X]  No [ ]

<PAGE>   2
                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                  Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period
                               Ended June 30, 1997

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PAGE
<S>      <C>                                                                                                       <C>
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  Item 1. Financial Statements

          Balance Sheets - June 30, 1997 (unaudited) and December 31, 1996                                            4

          Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 1997 and 1996 (unaudited)              5

          Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended June 30, 1997 and 1996 (unaudited)                      6

          Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)                                                                   7

  Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of                                 10
          Operations


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

  Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                                                           13
</TABLE>


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.   Financial Statements

          Presented herein are the Registrant's balance sheets as of June 30,
          1997 and December 31, 1996, statements of operations for the three and
          six months ended June 30, 1997, and 1996, and statements of cash flows
          for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and 1996.


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                   (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        June 30,     December 31,
                                                                          1997          1996
                                                                        ----------   ----------
<S>                                                                    <C>          <C>
                   Assets
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents, includes $145,669 at June 30, 1997
       and $218,930 at December 31, 1996 in interest-bearing accounts   $  156,288   $  219,151
    Net lease receivables due from Leasing Company
       (notes 1 and 2)                                                      47,788       81,880
                                                                        ----------   ----------

           Total current assets                                            204,076      301,031
                                                                        ----------   ----------

Container rental equipment, at cost                                      1,161,294    1,414,770
    Less accumulated depreciation                                          812,906      962,385
                                                                        ----------   ----------
       Net container rental equipment                                      348,388      452,385
                                                                        ----------   ----------

                                                                        $  552,464   $  753,416
                                                                        ==========   ==========

              Partners' Capital

Partners' capital:
    General partners                                                    $      363   $    1,068
    Limited partners                                                       552,101      752,348
                                                                        ----------   ----------

           Total partners' capital                                         552,464      753,416
                                                                        ----------   ----------

                                                                        $  552,464   $  753,416
                                                                        ==========   ==========

</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                   (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
                                                   --------------------  --------------------
                                                    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
                                                      1997      1996       1997       1996
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>     
Net lease revenue (notes 1 and 3)                  $ 26,124   $ 58,623   $ 70,320   $133,386
Other operating expenses:
     Depreciation                                         -     25,036     16,915     53,669
     Other general and administrative expenses        6,716      4,313     12,807      8,418
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                      6,716     29,349     29,722     62,087
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------
         Earnings from operations                    19,408     29,274     40,598     71,299
Other income:
     Interest income                                  1,679      3,472      3,850      6,364
     Net gain on disposal of equipment               18,764     33,921     37,615     60,945
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                     20,443     37,393     41,465     67,309
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------
         Net earnings                              $ 39,851   $ 66,667   $ 82,063   $138,608
                                                   ========   ========   ========   ========
Allocation of net earnings:
     General partners                              $ 11,308   $ 14,353   $ 24,452   $ 31,135
     Limited partners                                28,543     52,314     57,611    107,473
                                                   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                                   $ 39,851   $ 66,667   $ 82,063   $138,608
                                                   ========   ========   ========   ========
Limited partners' per unit share of net earnings   $   3.91   $   7.17   $   7.89   $  14.72
                                                   ========   ========   ========   ========
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Six Months Ended
                                                       ----------------------
                                                        June 30,     June 30,
                                                         1997         1996
                                                       ---------    ---------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>      
Net cash provided by operating activities              $  90,377    $ 154,267

Cash flows provided by investing activities:
     Proceeds from disposal of equipment                 129,776      259,181

Cash flows used in financing activities:
     Distribution to partners                           (283,016)    (353,143)
                                                       ---------    ---------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     (62,863)      60,305

Cash and cash equivalents at January 1                   219,151      269,720
                                                       ---------    ---------

Cash and cash equivalents at June 30                   $ 156,288    $ 330,025
                                                       =========    =========
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



(1)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

      (a) Nature of Operations

          IEA Marine Container Income Fund V(A) (the "Partnership") is a limited
          partnership organized under the laws of the State of California on
          August 8, 1983 for the purpose of owning and leasing marine cargo
          containers. The managing general partner is Cronos Capital Corp.
          ("CCC"); the associate general partners include four individuals. CCC,
          with its affiliate Cronos Containers Limited (the "Leasing Company"),
          manages the business of the Partnership. The Partnership shall
          continue until December 31, 2005, unless sooner terminated upon the
          occurrence of certain events.

          The Partnership commenced operations on March 5, 1984, when the
          minimum subscription proceeds of $1,000,000 were obtained. The
          Partnership offered 10,000 units of limited partnership interest at
          $500 per unit, or $5,000,000. The offering terminated on March 31,
          1984, at which time 7,302 limited partnership units had been
          purchased.

          As of June 30, 1997, the Partnership owned and operated 290
          twenty-foot, 102 forty-foot and 65 forty-foot high-cube marine dry
          cargo containers.


      (b) Leasing Company and Leasing Agent Agreement

          Pursuant to the Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, all
          authority to administer the business of the Partnership is vested in
          CCC. CCC has entered into a Leasing Agent Agreement whereby the
          Leasing Company has the responsibility to manage the leasing
          operations of all equipment owned by the Partnership. Pursuant to the
          Agreement, the Leasing Company is responsible for leasing, managing
          and re-leasing the Partnership's containers to ocean carriers and has
          full discretion over which ocean carriers and suppliers of goods and
          services it may deal with. The Leasing Agent Agreement permits the
          Leasing Company to use the containers owned by the Partnership,
          together with other containers owned or managed by the Leasing Company
          and its affiliates, as part of a single fleet operated without regard
          to ownership. Since the Leasing Agent Agreement meets the definition
          of an operating lease in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
          (SFAS) No. 13, it is accounted for as a lease under which the
          Partnership is lessor and the Leasing Company is lessee.

          The Leasing Agent Agreement generally provides that the Leasing
          Company will make payments to the Partnership based upon rentals
          collected from ocean carriers after deducting direct operating
          expenses and management fees to CCC. The Leasing Company leases
          containers to ocean carriers, generally under operating leases which
          are either master leases or term leases (mostly two to five years).
          Master leases do not specify the exact number of containers to be
          leased or the term that each container will remain on hire but allow
          the ocean carrier to pick up and drop off containers at various
          locations; rentals are based upon the number of containers used and
          the applicable per-diem rate. Accordingly, rentals under master leases
          are all variable and contingent upon the number of containers used.
          Most containers are leased to ocean carriers under master leases;
          leasing agreements with fixed payment terms are not material to the
          financial statements. Since there are no material minimum lease
          rentals, no disclosure of minimum lease rentals is provided in these
          financial statements.


                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


      (c) Basis of Accounting

          The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting. Net lease
          revenue is recorded by the Partnership in each period based upon its
          leasing agent agreement with the Leasing Company. Net lease revenue is
          generally dependent upon operating lease rentals from operating lease
          agreements between the Leasing Company and its various lessees, less
          direct operating expenses and management fees due in respect of the
          containers specified in each operating lease agreement.


      (d) Financial Statement Presentation

          These financial statements have been prepared without audit. Certain
          information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
          statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
          procedures have been omitted. It is suggested that these financial
          statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and
          accompanying notes in the Partnership's latest annual report on Form
          10-K.

          The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
          accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires the Partnership to make
          estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
          and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
          the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
          revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could
          differ from those estimates.

          The interim financial statements presented herewith reflect all
          adjustments of a normal recurring nature which are, in the opinion of
          management, necessary to a fair statement of the financial condition
          and results of operations for the interim periods presented.


(2)   Net Lease Receivables Due from Leasing Company

      Net lease receivables due from the Leasing Company are determined by
      deducting direct operating payables and accrued expenses, base management
      fees payable, reimbursed administrative expenses and incentive fees
      payable to CCC and its affiliates from the rental billings payable by the
      Leasing Company to the Partnership under operating leases to ocean
      carriers for the containers owned by the Partnership. Net lease
      receivables at June 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996 were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              June 30,      December 31,
                                                                1997           1996
                                                             ---------      -------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>   
Lease receivables, net of doubtful accounts
   of $70,569 at June 30, 1997 and $58,042
   at December 31, 1996                                       $97,874         $147,872
Less:
Direct operating payables and accrued expenses                 25,456           32,709
Damage protection reserve                                       5,309            5,271
Base management fees                                            7,018            8,822
Reimbursed administrative expenses                              1,172            1,658
Incentive fees                                                 11,131           17,532
                                                              -------         --------
                                                              $47,788         $ 81,880
                                                              =======         ========
</TABLE>


                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                      IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(3)   Net Lease Revenue

      Net lease revenue is determined by deducting direct operating expenses,
      base management and incentive fees and reimbursed administrative expenses
      to CCC from the rental revenue billed by the Leasing Company under
      operating leases to ocean carriers for the containers owned by the
      Partnership. Net lease revenue for the three and six-month periods ended
      June 30, 1997 and 1996, was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Three Months Ended             Six Months Ended
                                             -------------------------     --------------------------
                                               June 30,      June 30,       June 30,      June 30,
                                                 1997          1996           1997          1996
                                              ---------    ----------      ----------    ----------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>             <C>           <C>       
Rental revenue                                 $67,507      $128,887        $141,519      $276,853
Less:
Rental equipment operating expenses             23,318        27,181          30,179        63,991
Base management fees                             3,756         8,464           9,100        18,644
Reimbursed administrative expenses               3,178         6,513           6,875        15,194
Incentive fees                                  11,131        28,106          25,045        45,638
                                               -------      --------        --------      --------
                                               $26,124      $ 58,623        $ 70,320      $133,386
                                               =======      ========        ========      ========
</TABLE>


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations

It is suggested that the following discussion be read in conjunction with the
Registrant's most recent annual report on Form 10-K.

1)    Material changes in financial condition between June 30, 1997 and 
      December 31, 1996.

      As discussed in the Registrant's report for the year ended December 31,
      1996, the Registrant entered 1997 with a view towards accelerating the
      disposal of its fleet. During the first six months of 1997, the Registrant
      disposed of 112 containers as part of its ongoing container operations,
      contributing to a decline in the Registrant's operating results. At June
      30, 1997, 27% of the original equipment remained in the Registrant's
      fleet, as compared to 34% at December 31, 1996, and was comprised of the
      following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          40-Foot
                                                20-Foot               40-Foot             High-Cube
                                                -------               -------             ---------
<S>                                              <C>                    <C>                   <C>
         Containers on lease:
              Term leases                          17                     3                     7
              Master lease                        254                    78                    48
                                                  ---                   ---                    --
                  Subtotal                        271                    81                    55
         Containers off lease                      19                    21                    10
                                                  ---                   ---                    --
              Total container fleet               290                   102                    65
                                                  ===                   ===                    ==
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           40-Foot
                                                  20-Foot              40-Foot             High-Cube
                                            ----------------      -------------         ---------------
                                            Units          %      Units        %        Units         %
                                            ------     ----       -----     ----        -----     ----
<S>                                          <C>        <C>         <C>      <C>           <C>     <C> 
         Total purchases                     1,230      100%        358      100%          75      100%
              Less disposals                   940       76%        256       72%          10       13%
                                             -----      ---         ---      ---           --      ---
         Remaining fleet at
              June 30, 1997                    290       24%        102       28%          65       87%
                                             =====      ===         ===      ===           ==      ===
</TABLE>


      The Registrant's diminishing fleet size and its related operating
      performance contributed to a 42% decline in net lease receivables at June
      30, 1997, when compared to December 31, 1996. During the second quarter of
      1997, distributions from operations and sales proceeds amounted to
      $125,228, reflecting distributions to the general and limited partners for
      the first quarter of 1997. This represents a decline from the $157,788
      distributed during the first quarter of 1997, reflecting distributions for
      the fourth quarter of 1996. The Registrant's efforts to dispose of the
      remaining fleet should produce lower operating results and, consequently,
      lower distributions to its partners in subsequent quarters.

      During 1996, ocean carriers and other transport companies moved away from
      leasing containers outright, as declining container prices, favorable
      interest rates and the abundance of available capital resulted in ocean
      carriers and transport companies purchasing a larger share of equipment
      for their own account, reducing the demand for leased containers. Once the
      demand for leased containers began to fall, per-diem rental rates were
      also adversely affected, contributing to an uncertain start to 1997. Since
      the beginning of the year, the container leasing industry has experienced
      an upward trend in container utilization. This trend can also be seen
      within the Registrant's utilization rate, which increased from 85% at
      December 31, 1996 to 88% at June 30, 1997. During 1996, shipping lines and
      other transport companies had reduced their leased fleets to minimal
      levels in an attempt to reduce costs. However, increasing cargo volumes
      and continued equipment imbalances within the container fleets of shipping
      lines and transport companies have established a need for these companies
      to replenish their leased fleets.


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
      Although there has been an improvement in container utilization rates,
      per-diem rental rates continue to remain under pressure. The decline in
      per-diem rental rates from those evidenced during 1996 can be attributed
      to the following factors: three new leasing companies have offered new
      containers and low rental rates in an effort to break into the leasing
      market; established leasing companies have reduced rates to very low
      levels; and a continued over supply of containers. Although these
      conditions are expected to continue to impact the Registrant's financial
      condition and operating performance throughout 1997, the long-term outlook
      remains a positive one.


2)    Material changes in the results of operations between the three and 
      six-month periods ended June 30, 1997 and the three and six-month periods
      ended June 30, 1996.

      Net lease revenue for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 1997
      was $26,124 and $70,320, respectively, a decline of 55% and 47% from the
      same three and six-month periods in the prior year, respectively.
      Approximately 47% and 46% of the Registrant's net earnings for the three
      and six-month periods ended June 30, 1997, respectively, were from gain on
      disposal of equipment, as compared to 51% and 44% for the same three and
      six-month periods in the prior year, respectively. As the Registrant
      continues the disposal of its containers in subsequent periods, net gain
      on disposal should contribute significantly to the Registrant's net
      earnings.

      Gross rental revenue (a component of net lease revenue) for the three and
      six-month periods ended June 30, 1997 was $67,507 and $141,519,
      respectively, reflecting a decline of 48% and 49% from the same three and
      six-month periods in 1996, respectively. During 1997, gross rental revenue
      was primarily impacted by the Registrant's diminishing fleet size and
      lower utilization levels. Average per-diem rental rates decreased
      approximately 14% and 10%, when compared to the same three and six-month
      periods in the prior year, respectively. Utilization rates increased when
      compared to the same three and six-month periods in the prior year, as the
      market demand for leased containers improved since 1996 and the
      Registrant's continuing disposal of containers reduced the number of
      off-hire containers. The Registrant's average fleet size and utilization
      rates for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 1997 and June 30,
      1996 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Three Months Ended                 Six Months Ended
                                                    --------------------------          -----------------------
                                                     June 30,        June 30,           June 30,       June 30,
                                                      1997            1996               1997            1996
                                                    --------        ----------          --------       --------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>                <C>            <C>
         Average Fleet Size (measured in
              twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU))      649           1,079                698          1,182
         Average Utilization                            89%             87%                88%            84%
</TABLE>


      Rental equipment operating expenses were 35% and 21% of the Registrant's
      gross lease revenue during the three and six-month periods ended June 30,
      1997, respectively, as compared to 21% and 23% during the three and
      six-month periods ended June 30, 1996, respectively. Contributing to the
      increase for the three-month period ended June 30, 1997 were increases in
      the provision for doubtful accounts and related legal expenses associated
      with the collection actions against the doubtful accounts of certain
      lessees. The Registrant's declining fleet size and related operating
      results also contributed to a decline in base management and incentive
      fees, when compared to the same periods in the prior year. The
      Registrant's fleet became fully depreciated during the first quarter of
      1997, contributing to the decline in depreciation expense.

      As reported in the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K and Amendment
      No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February
      7, 1997 and February 26, 1997, respectively, Arthur Andersen, London,
      England, resigned as auditors of The Cronos Group, a Luxembourg
      Corporation headquartered in Orchard Lea, England (the "Parent Company"),
      on February 3, 1997.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
      The Parent Company is the indirect corporate parent of Cronos Capital
      Corp., the managing general partner of the Registrant. In its letter of
      resignation to the Parent Company, Arthur Andersen states that it resigned
      as auditors of the Parent Company and all other entities affiliated with
      the Parent Company. While its letter of resignation was not addressed to
      the managing general partner or the Registrant, Arthur Andersen confirmed
      to the managing general partner that its resignation as auditors of the
      entities referred to in its letter of resignation included its resignation
      as auditors of Cronos Capital Corp. and the Registrant. Following Arthur
      Andersen's resignation, the Parent Company subsequently received
      notification from the Securities and Exchange Commission that it was
      conducting a private investigation of the Parent Company regarding the
      events and circumstances leading to Arthur Andersen's resignation. The
      results of this investigation are still pending. Accordingly, the
      Registrant does not, at this time, have sufficient information to
      determine the impact, if any, that the Securities and Exchange Commission
      investigation of the Parent Company and the concerns expressed by Arthur
      Andersen in its letter of resignation may have on the future operating
      results and financial condition of the Registrant or the Leasing Company's
      ability to manage the Registrant's fleet in subsequent periods. However,
      the managing general partner of the Registrant does not believe, based
      upon the information currently available to it, that Arthur Andersen's
      resignation was triggered by any concern over the accounting policies and
      procedures followed by the Registrant.

      Arthur Andersen's report on the financial statements of Cronos Capital
      Corp. and the Registrant, for either of the previous two years, has not
      contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was any such
      report qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting
      principles. During the Registrant's previous two fiscal years and the
      subsequent interim period preceding Arthur Andersen's resignation, there
      have been no disagreements between Cronos Capital Corp. or the Registrant
      and Arthur Andersen on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
      financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

      The Registrant retained a new auditor, Moore Stephens, P.C. ("Moore
      Stephens") on April 10, 1997, as reported in the Registrant's Current
      Report on Form 8-K, filed April 14, 1997.

      The President of the Leasing Company, a subsidiary of the Parent Company,
      along with two marketing Vice Presidents, resigned in June 1997. These
      vacancies were filled by qualified, long-time employees who average over
      15 years of experience in the container leasing industry, therefore
      providing continuity in the management of the Leasing Company. The
      Registrant and managing general partner do not believe these changes will
      have a material impact on the future operating results and financial
      condition of the Registrant.


      Cautionary Statement

      This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements relating to future
      results of the Registrant, including certain projections and business
      trends, that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private
      Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ
      materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and
      uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in: economic
      conditions; trade policies; demand for and market acceptance of leased
      marine cargo containers; competitive utilization and per-diem rental rate
      pressures; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not
      limited to those described in the above discussion of the marine container
      leasing business under Item 2., Management's Discussion and Analysis of
      Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and those detailed from
      time to time in the filings of Registrant with the Securities and Exchange
      Commission.


                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)   Exhibits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              Exhibit                                                       
               No.                       Description                                              Method of Filing
              ------                     -----------                                              ----------------
<S>             <C>        <C>                                                                     <C>
                3(a)       Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and                  *
                           restated as of October 27, 1984

                3(b)       Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant                          **

               27          Financial Data Schedule                                                Filed with this document
</TABLE>

(b)   Reports on Form 8-K

      The Registrant filed a Report on Form 8-K, April 14, 1997, reporting the
      appointment of the Registrant's successor certifying accountant.
























----------------

*      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit "A" to the Prospectus of the
       Registrant dated October 28, 1984, included as part of Registration
       Statement on Form S-1 (No. 2-86324)

**     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement 
       on Form S-1 (No. 2-86324)

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                                   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.



                              IEA MARINE CONTAINER INCOME FUND V(A)

                              By     Cronos Capital Corp.
                                     The Managing General Partner



                              By      /s/ JOHN KALLAS
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     John Kallas
                                     Vice President, Treasurer
                                     Principal Finance & Accounting Officer



Date:  August 14, 1997

                                       14
<PAGE>   15
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              Exhibit                                                       
               No.                       Description                                              Method of Filing
              ------                     -----------                                              ----------------
<S>             <C>        <C>                                                                     <C>
                3(a)       Limited Partnership Agreement of the Registrant, amended and                  *
                           restated as of October 27, 1984

                3(b)       Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Registrant                          **

               27          Financial Data Schedule                                                Filed with this document
</TABLE>



































----------------

*      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit "A" to the Prospectus of the
       Registrant dated October 28, 1984, included as part of Registration
       Statement on Form S-1 (No. 2-86324)

**     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement on
       Form S-1 (No. 2-86324)