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Exhibit 10.17    
    


 
 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    
    


        AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made as of October     , 2004, between USS Vessel Management LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company with an office at 399 Thornall Street, Edison, New Jersey 08837 (the "Company"), and Paul Gridley, residing at 356
East 69th Street, New York, New York 10021 (the "Executive"). 


W I T N E S S E T H:  


        WHEREAS, Executive is presently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, United States Shipping Master LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
("Parent"), and each subsidiary of Parent (collectively with the Company, Parent and any entity that hereafter becomes a subsidiary of Parent or U.S.
Shipping Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), the US Shipping Group"); 


        WHEREAS,
on the date of the closing of the initial public offering of the Partnership pursuant to its Registration Statement on Form S-1
(No. 333-118141) (such date the "Effective Date") Parent will contribute the operating subsidiaries constituting the US Shipping
Group (other than the Company, USS Transport LLC, USS Chemical Transport LLC and US Shipping General Partner LLC, the sole member of the Company (the "General
Partner")) to the Partnership; 


        WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive are parties to an employment agreement dated as of September 13, 2002 (the "Prior Agreement"); 


        WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive desire to amend and restate the terms of the Prior Agreement; and 


        WHEREAS,
this Agreement shall supercede and completely replace the Prior Agreement as of the Effective Date. 


        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises, representations and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows: 



        1.    EMPLOYMENT.    


        The
Company hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts such employment, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Executive shall hold the office of Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company reporting to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") and the Board of Directors of the
General Partner (the "GP Board"). 


        2.    TERM.    



        The
initial term of employment under this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and shall continue until October 31 2007, subject to prior termination in accordance with the
terms hereof (the "Initial Term"). The Initial Term shall be automatically extended for successive additional periods of one (1) year commencing
on the third anniversary of the Effective Date and each anniversary thereof (each such period, an "Additional Term") unless either party shall have
given written notice to the other party of non-extension at least sixty (60) days' prior to the end of the then applicable Initial Term or Additional Term (the Initial Term and any
Additional Term collectively, the "Employment Term"). Notice of non-extension by the Company shall be deemed a termination without
justifiable cause (as defined herein) at the end of the then current Employment Term and notice of non-extension by Executive shall be deemed a termination without good reason (as defined
herein) at the end of the then current Employment Term. 


        3.    COMPENSATION.    


        As
compensation for the employment services to be rendered by Executive hereunder, including all services as an officer or director of any member of the US Shipping Group, the Company
agrees to 







 

pay,
or cause to be paid, to Executive, and Executive agrees to accept, payable in equal installments in accordance with Company practice, an initial annual salary of $417,000. Executive's annual
salary hereunder for the remaining years of employment shall be determined by the GP Board in its sole discretion; provided, however, that in no event shall Executive's salary in any year be reduced
below the rate for the previous year. In addition, Executive shall be eligible for bonuses from time to time in such amounts as may be determined by the GP Board in its sole discretion. 


        4.    EXPENSES.    



        The
Company shall pay or reimburse Executive, upon presentment of suitable vouchers, for all reasonable business and travel expenses which may be incurred or paid by Executive in
connection with his employment hereunder in accordance with Company policy as established from time to time by the Board of Directors. Executive shall comply with such restrictions and shall keep such
records as the Company may reasonably deem necessary to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the
"Code"), and regulations promulgated thereunder. 


        5.    OTHER BENEFITS.    



        Executive
shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks paid vacation per year and to participate in such benefit plans and arrangements and receive any other benefits customarily
provided by the Company to its senior management personnel (including any profit sharing, pension, short- and long-term disability insurance, hospital, major medical insurance and group
life insurance plans in accordance with the terms of such plans) and including stock option and/or stock purchase plans, all as determined from time to time by the GP Board, on a level commensurate
with Executive's seniority (the "Benefit Plans"). The Company shall indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including the
advancement of legal expenses and costs. 


        6.    DUTIES.    


        (a)   Executive
shall perform such reasonable duties and functions as the Company Board and the GP Board may lawfully assign to him, such duties being commensurate with the
duties customarily performed by chief executive officers of companies, and Executive shall comply in the performance of his duties with the policies of the Company Board and the GP Board, and be
subject to the direction of the Company Board and the GP Board. At the request of the GP Board, Executive shall serve as an executive officer, director and manager of any member of the US Shipping
Group engaged in the operation of U.S.-flagged product tankers without additional compensation and, in the performance of such duties, Executive shall comply with the policies of the board of
directors or board of managers of each such entity. Executive shall serve, without additional compensation, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner, Parent, the Partnership and
each subsidiary of the Partnership and the General Partner. 


        (b)   During
the Employment Term, Executive shall devote a majority of his time and attention, reasonable vacation time and absences for sickness excepted, to the business of
the Company, as necessary to fulfill his duties. Executive shall perform the duties assigned to him with fidelity and to the best of his ability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but
subject to the next sentence of this Section 6(b), Executive may engage in other activities so long as such activities do not unreasonably interfere with Executive's performance of his duties
hereunder and do not violate Section 9 hereof. The Company recognizes that Executive will be devoting a significant minority of his time to the activities set forth on  Schedule A attached
hereto. The Company agrees that Executive's duties hereunder shall not require excessive travel away from the New York
metropolitan area, and that Executive need not be physically present at the Company's executive offices for a specific number of days per month or year for the performance of his duties hereunder. 



        (c)   Nothing
contained in this Section 6 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent Executive from investing or trading in non-competing
investments as he sees fit for his own account, including real estate, stocks, bonds, securities, commodities or other forms of investments. 


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Specifically,
the Company acknowledges that (i) the Executive has disclosed ownership interests in and management responsibilities for the entities and assets listed on  Schedule A attached hereto and
(ii) neither such ownership interests nor management responsibilities as they exist as of the date hereof
shall, subject to the first two sentences of Section 6(b), violate this Section 6 or the other provisions of this Agreement. 


        7.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; EFFECT OF TERMINATION.    


        (a)   Executive's
employment hereunder shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following: 



        (i)    upon
thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Executive upon the determination by the GP Board that Executive's performance of his duties has not been fully
satisfactory for any reason which would not constitute "justifiable cause" (as hereinafter defined); 


        (ii)   upon
three (3) days' prior written notice to Executive upon the determination by the GP Board that there is justifiable cause for such termination; 


        (iii)  automatically
and without notice upon the death of Executive; 


        (iv)  in
accordance with the terms of subsection (d) hereof upon the "disability" (as hereinafter defined) of Executive; 



        (v)   upon
written notice by the Executive to the Company of a termination for good reason (as hereinafter defined) within ninety (90) days after the event that
constitutes good reason; or 


        (vi)  upon
30 days' prior written notice by Executive to the Company of the Executive's voluntary termination of employment without good reason. 




        (b)   For
the purposes of this Agreement, the term: 



        (i)    "disability" shall mean the inability of Executive, due to illness, accident or any other physical or mental incapacity,
substantially to perform the material functions of his duties for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for a total of eight (8) months (whether or not consecutive) in any twelve
(12) month period during the term of this Agreement, as reasonably determined by the GP Board, in good faith, after examination of Executive by an independent physician reasonably acceptable to
Executive. 


        (ii)   "change of control" shall mean (A) the occurrence of any transaction the result of which is that any person
(other than Parent, any entity controlled by Sterling Investment Partners L.P. or its affiliates, or any entity in which Executive is an executive officer and/or equity holder that is formed for the
purpose of effecting the transaction that would constitute a change of control and that, prior to effecting such transaction, does not have any equity securities that are publicly traded) acquires
more than 50% of the outstanding equity of, or otherwise obtains the right to appoint a majority of, the directors (or equivalent) of (x) the General Partner or (y) Parent or
(B) the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the General Partner or Parent to any person other than an affiliate of Parent, any entity controlled by Sterling Investment Partners L.P.
or its affiliates or any entity in Executive is an executive officer and/or equity holder that is formed for the purpose of effecting the transaction that would constitute a change of control and
that, prior to effecting such transaction, does not have any equity securities that are publicly traded); 


        (iii)  "good reason" shall mean (i) any material diminution of Executive's duties, (ii) any change in
Executive's reporting relationship that removes the Executive from reporting directly to the GP Board, (iii) any change in Executive's or another person's duties that provides such other person
with substantially all the duties of chief executive officer of the Company, Parent, the General Partner or any subsidiary of the Partnership or the General Partner, or (iv) requiring Executive
to be physically present during a substantial portion of the working hours he is required to devote to the Company at a location that is not within a 50 mile radius of Manhattan, in each 



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case
that has not been remedied within thirty days after written notice from Executive to the GP Board; and 


        (iv)  "justifiable cause" shall mean: (i) Executive's repeated failure or refusal to attempt to perform his duties
pursuant to, or Executive's breach of, this Agreement where such conduct or breach shall not have ceased or been remedied within 15 days following written warning from the Company;
(ii) Executive's performance of any act or his failure to act, for which if Executive were prosecuted and convicted, a crime or offense involving money or property of the US Shipping Group, or
which would constitute a felony in the jurisdiction involved, would have occurred; (iii) Executive's performance of any act or his failure to act which constitutes, in the reasonable good faith
determination of the GP Board, dishonesty, fraud or a breach of a fiduciary trust, including without limitation misappropriation of funds; (iv) any intentional unauthorized disclosure by
Executive to any person, firm or corporation other than the members of the US Shipping Group and their respective directors, managers, officers and employees, of any confidential information or trade
secret of the US Shipping Group; (v) any attempt by Executive to secure any personal profit (other than through his ownership of units of Parent or the Partnership and his profits interest in
the General Partner) in connection with the business of the US Shipping Group (for example, without limitation, using US Shipping Group assets to pursue other interests, diverting any business
opportunity belonging to US Shipping Group to himself or to a third party, insider trading or taking bribes or kickbacks); (vi) Executive's engagement in a fraudulent act to the material damage
of the US Shipping Group; (vii) Executive's illegal use of controlled substances; (viii) any act or omission by Executive involving malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of
Executive's duties to the material detriment of the US Shipping Group, as determined in reasonable good faith by the GP Board; or (ix) the entry of any order of a court that remains in effect
and is not discharged for a period of at least sixty (60) days, which enjoins or otherwise limits or restricts the performance by Executive under this Agreement, relating to any contract,
agreement or commitment made by or applicable to Executive in favor of any former employer or any other person. Upon termination of Executive's employment for justifiable cause, Executive shall not be
entitled to any amounts or benefits hereunder other than such portion of Executive's annual salary and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 4 hereof as has been accrued through the
date of his termination of employment. 




        (c)   If
Executive should die during the term of his employment hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate immediately. In such event, the estate of Executive shall thereupon
be entitled to receive such portion of Executive's annual salary and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 4 as has been accrued through the date of his death. Executive shall also be
entitled to any amounts or benefits payable under the terms of the Benefit Plans. 


        (d)   Upon
a finding by the GP Board of Executive's disability in accordance with Section 7(b) hereof, the Company shall have the right to terminate Executive's
employment. Notwithstanding any inability to perform his duties, Executive shall be entitled to receive his compensation (including bonus, if any) pursuant to Section 3 and reimbursement of
expenses pursuant to Section 4 as provided herein until he begins to receive long-term disability insurance benefits under the policy provided by the Company pursuant to
Section 5 hereof. In the event that payments received from such long-term disability insurance policy do not equal the Executive's rate of salary at the time of the disability, then
for a period of 18 months following termination the Company shall continue to pay to Executive the difference between the policy benefit and such rate of salary, subject to any applicable tax
withholding. Any termination pursuant to this subsection (e) shall be effective on the date Executive begins to receive long-term disability insurance benefits under the policy
provided by the Company pursuant to Section 5 hereof. Executive shall also be entitled to any amounts or benefits payable under the terms of the Benefit Plans. 


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        (e)   Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary contained herein, in the event that Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without justifiable cause or by the
Executive for good reason, the Company shall (i) pay Executive, for a period of two years following the date of termination (such period being hereinafter referred to as the
"Severance Period"), a monthly payment (subject to applicable tax withholding) equal to one-twelfth of his then annual salary and
one-twelfth of his target bonus for the year in which termination of employment occurs, as established by the compensation committee of the GP Board (provided that if the compensation
committee has not established a target bonus for such year, then for purposes of this Section 7(e) such target bonus shall be 50% of Executive's then current salary), which amount shall be in
lieu of any and all other payments due and owing to Executive under the terms of this Agreement (other than any payments constituting reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 4 hereof and
any payments or benefits payable under the Benefit Plans), and (ii) continue to allow Executive to participate, at the Company's expense (to the same extent the Company bears such expense at
the time of termination), in the Company's health insurance program, to the extent permitted under such programs, until the earlier of (1) the end of the Severance Period or (2) the date
Executive begins employment with another entity which provides substantially similar benefits to the Executive (collectively, the "Severance Payments");
provided, however, that the Company's obligation to make the Severance Payments shall be conditional upon Executive executing a general release in favor of the Company and Executive's compliance with
his obligations under Sections 9, 10 and 11 hereof; and provided further, that in the event that Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without justifiable cause (including by reason of
non-renewal of this Agreement) or by the Executive for good reason within two years following the effective date of a change of control, then the Company shall pay to Executive, in lieu of
the amounts to be paid pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 7(e), an amount equal to the product determined by multiplying (x) the sum of his then annual
salary and his target bonus for the year in which termination of employment occurs, as established by the compensation committee of the GP Board (provided that if the compensation committee has not
established a target bonus for such year, then for purposes of this Section 7(e) such target bonus shall be 50% of Executive's then current salary), by (y) three, such payment to be made
within ten business days following such termination of employment. If Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without justifiable cause (including by reason of non-renewal of
this Agreement) or by the Executive for good reason at a time when the Partnership, the General Partner or Parent is in negotiations regarding a transaction that would, if consummated, constitute a
change of control and such transaction is consummated within one year following Executive's termination of employment, then Executive's severance shall be calculated and paid as if such termination
had occurred within two years following a change of control, and the Company shall, upon consummation of such transaction, pay to Executive an amount equal to the difference between the amount he
would be entitled to pursuant to this sentence and the amount of severance payments Executive has received through such date. 


        (f)    Upon
Executive's termination of his employment hereunder or his election not to renew this Agreement, this Agreement (other than Sections 9, 10, 11 and 14 which shall
survive in accordance with their terms) shall terminate. In such event, Executive shall be entitled to receive such portion of Executive's annual salary and bonus, if any, as has been accrued to date.
Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 4 hereof and to continue to participate in the Benefit Plans to the extent participation by former employees is
required by law or permitted by such plans, with the expense of such participation to be as specified in such plans for former employees. Executive shall also be entitled to any amounts or benefits
payable under the terms of the Benefit Plans. 


        8.    REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS OF EXECUTIVE.    


        (a)   Executive
represents and warrants that he is free to enter into this Agreement and to perform the duties required hereunder, and that there are no employment contracts
or understandings, restrictive covenants or other restrictions, whether written or oral, preventing the performance of his duties hereunder. 


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        (b)   Executive
agrees to submit to a medical examination and to cooperate and supply such other information and documents as may be reasonably required by any insurance
company in connection with the Company's obtaining life insurance on the life of Executive, and any other type of insurance or fringe benefit as the Company shall determine from time to time to
obtain. 


        9.    NON-COMPETITION.    


        (a)   In
view of the unique and valuable services expected to be rendered by Executive to the US Shipping Group, Executive's knowledge of the trade secrets and other
proprietary information relating to the business and in consideration of the compensation to be received hereunder and Executive's direct ownership interest in the Parent and indirect ownership in the
Partnership, Executive agrees that during his employment by the Company and, following the termination of Executive's employment hereunder, during the Non-Competition Period (as defined
below), Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, as owner, partner, joint venturer, stockholder, employee, broker, agent, principal, trustee, corporate officer, director, licensor, or in any
capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by, render any consultation or business advice with respect to, or have any connection with, (i) any business which
is competitive with products or services of the US Shipping Group in the United States of America or (ii) any business conducted under any corporate or trade name utilized by the US Shipping
Group or any name similar thereto without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that Executive may own any securities of any corporation which is engaged in such business and is
publicly owned and traded but in an amount not to exceed at any one time one percent (1%) of any class of stock or securities of such corporation. The Company hereby agrees that the following
activities shall not be deemed to be a business competitive with the business of the US Shipping Group: 



        (i)    employment
by any entity that is not engaged in the ownership and operation of vessels engaged in the coastwise trade under the Jones Act; 


        (ii)   employment
by an entity that has divisions or affiliates engaged in the ownership and operation of vessels engaged in the coastwise trade under the Jones Act as long as
Executive is employed in a division or affiliate of such entity that does not, directly or indirectly, engage in the ownership and operation of vessels engaged in the coastwise trade under the Jones
Act and Executive does not share information, directly or indirectly, with those divisions and/or affiliates of such entity engaged in the ownership and operation of vessels engaged in the coastwise
trade under the Jones Act; 


        (iii)  transportation
of chemical products on the tank barges listed on Schedule A hereto and, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b) below, any other tank
barges of less than 15,000 tons deadweight, other than the transportation of petroleum or petroleum products, as long as either (i) Mr. Gridley continues to engage in such business on a
continuous basis after the date hereof or (ii) if Mr. Gridley does not continue to engage in such business on a continuous basis after the date hereof, at the time Mr. Gridley
determines to reenter such business, the US Shipping Group is not then engaged in such business. 




In
addition, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, during the Non-Competition Period, request or cause any suppliers or customers with whom the US Shipping Group has a business
relationship to cancel or terminate any such business relationship with any member of the US Shipping Group or solicit, interfere with or entice from the Parent or any of its subsidiaries any employee
(or former employee) of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries. For purposes hereof, the "Non-Competition Period" shall mean: (i) if
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for justifiable cause (as defined in Section 7(b)) or disability (as defined in Section 7(b)), or if Executive voluntarily terminates
his employment hereunder (including by electing not to renew this Agreement), a period of three (3) years following such termination of employment; and (ii) if Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company for other than justifiable cause or disability, by the Executive for good reason, or as a 


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result
of the Company's election not to renew the employment agreement, the Severance Period, provided, however, that in the case of this clause (ii) if the Company breaches its obligation to
make the Severance Payments or to comply with its obligations under Section 4 hereof, and such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice of such breach is provided
to the Company by Executive, Executive shall be released from his obligations under this Section 9. 


        (b)   Notwithstanding
Section 9(a) hereof, Executive agrees that during his employment by the Company he will not, directly or indirectly, acquire an interest in any
tank barge (other than those listed on Schedule A hereto) of less than 15,000 deadweight tons if at any time more than 50% of the annual revenue
expected to be generated from the operation of such tank barge is expected to be "qualifying income" (within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto)
without first offering to the Partnership the opportunity to acquire such interest on the same terms and conditions offered to him and the conflicts committee of the GP Board determining that the
Partnership is not interested in acquiring such interest; provided that if at the time of acquisition less than 50% of the annual revenue expected to be generated from the operation of such tank barge
is expected to be "qualifying income" and therefore was not offered to the Partnership, but subsequently 50% or more of the annual revenue expected to be generated from the operation of such tank
barge is expected to be "qualifying income," then at such time Executive shall offer to the conflicts committee of the GP Board the right to have the Partnership acquire such tank barge (or
Executive's interest therein) at fair market value. 


        (c)   If
any portion of the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 should, for any reason whatsoever, be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
validity or enforceability of the remainder of such restrictions shall not thereby be adversely affected. 


        (d)   Executive
acknowledges that the Parent has invested substantial monies in connection with the acquisition of the Business (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement,
dated as of July 18, 2002, among Amerada Hess Corporation, United States Shipping LLC (f/k/a US Shipping Acquisition LLC), a subsidiary of Parent, the Company and the other signatories thereto
(the "Purchase Agreement")) from Hess and that the provisions of this Section 9 were a material inducement to the US Shipping Group to consummate
the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the "Acquisition"), and that the US Shipping Group would not have consummated the Acquisition
but for the agreements and covenants contained herein. Executive further acknowledges that the territorial and time limitations set forth in this Section 9 are reasonable and properly required
for the adequate protection of the business of the US Shipping Group. Executive hereby waives, to the extent permitted by law, any and all right to contest the validity of this Section 9 on the
ground of breadth of its geographic or product and service coverage or length of term. In the event any such territorial or time limitation is deemed to be unreasonable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, Executive agrees to the reduction of the territorial or time limitation to the area or period which such court shall deem reasonable. 


        (e)   The
existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the Company or any other member of the US Shipping Group shall not constitute a defense to the
enforcement by the US Shipping Group of the foregoing restrictive covenants, but such claim or cause of action shall be litigated separately. 


        10.    NON-DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.    



        (a)   Executive
shall not, during the term of this Agreement, or at any time following expiration or termination of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, disclose or permit
to be known (other than as is required in the regular course of his duties (including without limitation disclosures to the Company's advisors and consultants) or as is required by law (in which case
Executive shall give the Company prior written notice of such required disclosure) or with the prior written consent of the GP Board), to any person, firm or corporation, any confidential information
acquired by him during the course of, or as an incident to, his employment hereunder, relating to the US Shipping Group, any client of the US 


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Shipping
Group, or any corporation, partnership or other entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any of the foregoing, or in which any of the foregoing has a beneficial interest,
including, but not limited to, the business affairs of each of the foregoing. Such confidential information shall include, but shall not be limited to, proprietary technology, trade secrets, patented
processes, research and development data, know-how, market studies and forecasts, competitive analyses, pricing policies, employee lists, personnel policies, the substance of agreements
with customers, suppliers and others, marketing or dealership arrangements, servicing and training programs and arrangements, customer lists and any other documents embodying such confidential
information. This confidentiality obligation shall not apply to any confidential information which is known to Executive as a result of his professional business experience prior to the date hereof or
his involvement in the business activities set forth on Schedule A hereof or which becomes publicly available from sources unrelated to the US
Shipping Group. 


        (b)   All
information and documents relating to the US Shipping Group as hereinabove described (or other business affairs) shall be the exclusive property of the Company, and
Executive shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to prevent any publication or disclosure thereof. Upon termination of Executive's employment with the Company, all documents, records, reports,
writings and other similar documents containing confidential information, including copies thereof, then in Executive's possession or control shall be returned and left with the Company. 


        11.    SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.    


        Executive
agrees that if he breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of Sections 9 or 10 (the "Restrictive
Covenants"), the Company shall have, in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company under law and in equity, the right to injunctive
relief and/or to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by a court of competent jurisdiction, without the posting of any bond or other security, it being agreed that any breach or
threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury to the US Shipping Group and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing herein shall constitute a waiver by Executive of his right to contest whether a breach or threatened breach of any Restrictive Covenant has occurred. 


        12.    AMENDMENT OR ALTERATION.    



        No
amendment or alteration of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by both of the parties hereto. 


        13.    GOVERNING LAW.    


        This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, including choice of law rules, applicable to agreements made and to be performed
therein. 


        14.    ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.    


        Any
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in New York City by one (1) arbitrator in accordance
with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each
party shall bear its own costs (including legal fees and expenses) in the arbitration unless the arbitrator determines otherwise. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude any party from seeking a
preliminary injunction or other provisional relief, either prior to, during or after invoking the procedures in this paragraph, if in its judgment such action is necessary to avoid irreparable damage
or to preserve the status quo. 


        15.    SEVERABILITY.    


        The
holding of any provision of this Agreement to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, which shall
remain in full force and effect. 


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        16.    WITHHOLDING.    


        The
Company may deduct and withhold from the payments to be made to Executive hereunder any amounts required to be deducted and withheld by the Company under the provisions of any
applicable statute, law, regulation or ordinance now or hereafter enacted. 


        17.    NOTICES.    


        Any
notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be sufficient if in writing, and if delivered by hand or courier, or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the addresses set forth above or such other address as either party may from time to time designate in writing to the other, and shall be deemed given as of the date of the delivery or at the
expiration of three days in the event of a mailing. 


        18.    COUNTERPARTS AND FACSIMILE SIGNATURES.    


        This
Agreement may be signed in counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures to each counterpart were upon a single instrument, and all such counterparts together shall be
deemed an original of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a facsimile copy of a party's signature shall be sufficient to bind such party. 


        19.    WAIVER OR BREACH.    



        It
is agreed that a waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate, or be construed, as a waiver of any subsequent breach by that same party. 


        20.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND BINDING EFFECT.    


        This
Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, both written and oral, between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may be modified only by a written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives, heirs, distributors, successors and assigns, provided, however, that Executive shall not be entitled to assign or delegate any
of his rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company. It is intended that Sections 9, 10 and 11 benefit each of the Company and each other member of the US Shipping
Group, each of which is entitled to enforce the provisions of Sections 9, 10 and 11. 


        21.    SURVIVAL.    



        Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, the termination of Executive's employment hereunder or the expiration of this Agreement shall not affect the enforceability of Sections 9,
10 and 11 hereof. 


        22.    FURTHER ASSURANCES.    


        The
parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the
purposes and intent of this Agreement. 


        23.    CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT.    


        No
provision of this Agreement or any related document shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial
authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured or drafted such provision. 


        24.    HEADINGS.    



        The
Section headings appearing in this Agreement are for the purposes of easy reference and shall not be considered a part of this Agreement or in any way modify, demand or affect its
provisions. 


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        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written. 



	 	 	USS VESSEL MANAGEMENT LLC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	 	

	 	 	 	Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	


	 	 	Paul Gridley






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SCHEDULE A    
    


        Mr. Gridley has ownership interests in the following corporations: 


        1.     Maritrac,
LLC—A company developing marine security and vessel tracking systems. 



        2.     USS
Holding, LLC (f/k/a United States Shipping LLC)—Current chemical barge shipping business. Holds interests in the chemical barges (i) Sea Crest and
(ii) Sea Spray. 


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QuickLinks



Exhibit 10.17


AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE A