Document:

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

COMMON UNIT AND CLASS B UNIT
 PURCHASE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

U.S. SHIPPING PARTNERS L.P.

AND

THE PURCHASERS

Schedules and Exhibits

	
  
Schedule   2.01 -
  	
  
List of   Purchasers and Commitment Amounts
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Schedule   2.01(d) –
  	
  
List of Escrow   Purchasers
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Schedule   8.07 -
  	
  
Notice and   Contact Information
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  Exhibit A -
  	
  
Amendment   No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of U.S.   Shipping
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Exhibit B -
  	
  
Form of U.S.   Shipping Officer’s Certificate
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Exhibit C -
  	
  
Form of   Legal Opinion
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Exhibit D -
  	
  
Form of   Registration Rights Agreement
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Exhibit E -
  	
  
Form of   Purchaser’s Officer’s Certificate
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  Exhibit F -
  	
  
Form of   Purchaser’s Eligibility Representations
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Exhibit G -
  	
  
Form of   Escrow Agreement
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Exhibit H -
  	
  
Form of   Application for Admission
  

COMMON UNIT AND
 CLASS B UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                  COMMON UNIT AND CLASS B UNIT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT, dated as of August 4, 2006 (this “Agreement”), by
and among U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(“U.S. Shipping”), and each of the Purchasers listed in
Schedule 2.01 attached hereto (each referred to herein as a
“Purchaser” and collectively, the
“Purchasers”).

          WHEREAS, U.S. Shipping desires to raise an aggregate of at least $75 million through the sale of Common Units and Class B Units, and the Purchasers desire to purchase an aggregate of at least $75 million of Common Units and Class B Units from U.S. Shipping, each in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; 

          WHEREAS, it is a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers hereunder that, concurrently with the offer and sale of Common Units and Class B Units, U.S. Shipping (i) offer and sell $100 million principal amount of its 13% senior secured notes due 2014 in a concurrent private placement pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act (the “Notes Offering”), (ii) amend and restate its existing credit facility to provide it with $310 million of term loans (including a $60 million delayed draw term loan) and a $40 million revolving credit facility (the “Amended Credit Facility”); and (iii) form a joint venture between U.S. Shipping and third party equity investors for the construction of double-hulled product tankers, as further described in U.S. Shipping’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 2, 2006 (the “Joint
Venture Transaction”); and

          WHEREAS, U.S. Shipping has agreed to provide Purchasers with certain registration rights with respect to the Purchased Units acquired pursuant to this Agreement.

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, U.S. Shipping and each of the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS

          Section 1.01     Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated: 

          “Action” against a Person means any lawsuit, action, proceeding or complaint before any Governmental Authority, mediator or arbitrator.

          “Admission Application” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.03(f).

          “Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person, whether now in existence or hereafter created, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common

control with”) means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

          “Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

          “Allocated Purchase Price” means with respect to each Purchaser, the dollar amount set for opposite such Purchaser’s name under the heading Allocated Purchase Price on Schedule 2.01 hereto.

          “Amended Credit Facility” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement.

           “Basic Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Class B Amendment and any and all other agreements or instruments executed and delivered by the Parties on even date herewith or at Closing, or any amendments, supplements, continuations or modifications thereto. 

          “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the General Partner.

          “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday for commercial banks in New York, New York. 

          “Class B Amendment” means an amendment to the Partnership Agreement, in all material respects in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, which U.S. Shipping will cause to be adopted immediately prior to the issuance and sale of Class B Units contemplated by this Agreement.

          “Class B Unit Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

          “Class B Units” means the Class B Units of U.S. Shipping, as established by the Class B Amendment.

          “Closing” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.02. 

          “Closing Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

          “Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

          “Commitment Amount” means the number of Purchased Units set forth opposite each Purchaser’s name on Schedule 2.01 to this Agreement.

          “Common Unit Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

          “Common Units” means the Common Units of U.S. Shipping representing limited partner interests therein.

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          “Construction Contract” means the Amended and Restated Contract for Construction of 49,000 DWT Product/Chemical Tankers, dated March 14, 2006, for USS Product Carriers LLC by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, as amended.

          “Delaware LLC Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

          “Delaware LP Act” means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

          “DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

          “Escrow Agreement” means that certain Escrow Agreement dated as of August 4, 2006, by and among U.S. Shipping Lehman Brothers, Inc. and the escrow agent named therein in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G.

          “Escrow Agent” shall have the meaning specified in the Escrow Agreement.

          “Escrow Purchaser” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.01(d).

          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. 

          “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time. 

          “General Partner” means US Shipping General Partner LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of U.S. Shipping.

          “Governmental Authority” shall include the country, state, county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such Person’s Property is located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them and any monetary authorities that exercise valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person’s Property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, U.S. Shipping, its Subsidiaries or any of their Property or any of the Purchasers. 

          “Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.03. 

          “Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.03. 

          “Joint Venture Transaction” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement.

          “Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign order, writ, injunction, judgment, settlement, award, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation.

          “Lien” means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law,

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statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes.  For the purpose of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property that it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

          “Lock-Up Date” means 90 days from the Closing Date.

          “LTIP” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.02(c).

          “Non-Escrow Purchaser” means each Purchaser other than those listed as Escrow Purchasers on Schedule 2.01(d).

          “Notes Offering” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals of this Agreement.

          “NYSE” shall mean The New York Stock Exchange.

          “Partnership Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of U.S. Shipping, dated as of November 3, 2004, as it may be further amended from time to time, including by the Class B Amendment. 

          “Party” or “Parties” means U.S. Shipping and the Purchasers party to this Agreement, individually or collectively, as the case may be.

          “Person” means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity. 

          “Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible. 

          “Purchase Price” means the aggregate of each Purchaser’s Allocated Purchase Price.

          “Purchased Class B Units” means the Class B Units to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement.

          “Purchased Common Units” means the Common Units to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement.

          “Purchased Units” means the Purchased Class B Units and the Purchased Common Units. 

          “Purchaser” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

          “Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” means any material and adverse effect on (i) the ability of a Purchaser to meet its obligations under the Basic Documents on a timely basis or (ii) the ability of a Purchaser to consummate the transactions under any Basic Document.

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          “Purchaser Related Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

          “Purchasers” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph. 

          “Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit D, to be entered into at the Closing, among U.S. Shipping and the Purchasers.

          “Representatives” of any Person means the Affiliates, control persons, officers, directors, employees, agents, counsel, investment bankers and other representatives of such Person.

          “Second Quarter Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.02.

          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

          “Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding equity interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation or other entity is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries; provided, USS Products Investor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, shall not be deemed to be a “Subsidiary” of U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of this Agreement.

          “Terminating Breach” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.12(a)(ii).

           “Unitholders” means the Unitholders of U.S. Shipping (within the meaning of the Partnership Agreement).

          “U.S. Shipping” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

          “U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect” means any material and adverse effect on (i) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations, prospects or affairs of U.S. Shipping and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, measured against those assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations, prospects or affairs reflected in the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, (ii) the ability of U.S. Shipping and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to carry out their business as of the date of this Agreement or to meet their obligations under the Basic Documents on a timely basis, or (iii) the ability of U.S. Shipping to consummate the transactions under any Basic Document.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any effect resulting or arising from: (a) any change in general economic conditions in the industries or
markets in which U.S. Shipping or its Subsidiaries operate that do not have a disproportionate impact on U.S. Shipping or its Subsidiaries; (b) national or international political, diplomatic or military conditions, including any engagement in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to a declaration of war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack; (c) changes in GAAP or other accounting principles or (d) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Notes Offering, by the Amended Credit Facility or by the Joint Venture Transaction.

          “U.S. Shipping Related Parties” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.02.

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          “U.S. Shipping SEC Documents” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.03.

          Section 1.02     Accounting Procedures and Interpretation.  Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters under this Agreement shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Purchasers under this Agreement shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q promulgated by the Commission) and in compliance as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto. 

ARTICLE II
 SALE AND PURCHASE

          Section 2.01     Sale and Purchase.

	
  
 
  	
  
          (a)          Sale   and Purchase.  Subject to the   terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, U.S. Shipping hereby   agrees to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser hereby agrees,   severally and not jointly, to purchase from U.S. Shipping, the number of   Purchased Common Units and Purchased Class B Units set forth on Schedule   2.01 hereto opposite the name of such Purchaser, and each Purchaser   agrees to pay U.S. Shipping the Common Unit Price for each Purchased Common   Unit and the Class B Unit Price for each Purchased Class B Unit, in each   case, as set forth in paragraph (b) below of this Section 2.01.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (b)          Consideration.  Subject to Section 5.02, (i) the amount   per Common Unit each Purchaser will pay to U.S. Shipping to purchase the   Purchased Common Units (the “Common Unit Price”) shall be $18.34 and   (ii) the amount per Class B Unit each Purchaser will pay to U.S. Shipping to   purchase the Purchased Class B Units (the “Class B Unit Price”) shall   be $17.12.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (c)          Maximum   Number of Purchased Common Units.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the maximum   number of Purchased Common Units to be issued and sold by U.S. Shipping to   the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement shall not exceed 19.9% of the   number of Common Units outstanding immediately prior to Closing.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (d)          Funding   into Escrow by Certain Purchasers.    Each Purchaser identified as an “Escrow Purchaser” on Schedule 2.01(d)   hereto (each, an “Escrow Purchaser”)    shall deposit its Allocated Purchase Price into an escrow account as   provided in the Escrow Agreement on the date hereof.  On the Closing Date, upon receipt of   satisfactory evidence that the conditions set forth in Article VI have been   satisfied, each such  Escrow Purchaser   shall  deliver notice to the Escrow   Agent to promptly and timely release the    funds escrowed under the Escrow Agreement to U.S Shipping.
  

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          (e)          Non-Escrow   Purchasers. Each Non-Escrow Purchaser shall deliver its Allocated Purchase   Price to U.S. Shipping on the Closing Date as provided in Section 6.03(b).
  

          Section 2.02     Closing.  The execution and delivery of the Basic Documents (other than this Agreement), delivery of certificates representing the Purchased Units, the release of the funds escrowed under the Escrow Agreement to U.S. Shipping pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement and execution and delivery of all other instruments, agreements, and other documents required by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place on a date (the “Closing Date”) concurrent with the closing of the Notes Offering, the Amended Credit Facility and the Joint Venture Transaction.  The Closing shall take place on August 7, 2006 or such other date  with respect to which U.S. Shipping shall have given each Purchaser two Business Days (or such shorter period as shall be agreeable to the Parties).  The
Closing shall take place at the offices of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10103.

          Section 2.03     Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights.  The respective obligations of each Purchaser under any Basic Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Basic Document.  The failure or waiver of performance under any Basic Document by any Purchaser, or on its behalf, does not excuse performance by any other Purchaser.  Nothing contained herein or in any other Basic Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group
with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by any Basic Document.  Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including the rights arising out of this agreement or out of the other Basic Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

          Section 2.04     Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event that less than 100% of the Purchase Price is received by U.S. Shipping on the Closing Date, this Agreement shall automatically terminate, funds escrowed pursuant to Escrow Agreement shall be returned to the applicable Purchasers pursuant to the terms thereof and any payments of a Purchaser’s Allocated Purchase Price received directly by U.S. Shipping shall be returned to the applicable Purchaser(s).

ARTICLE III
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF U.S. SHIPPING

          U.S. Shipping represents and warrants to the Purchasers, on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date,  as follows:

          Section 3.01     Partnership Existence.  U.S. Shipping: (i) is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) has all requisite limited partnership power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals, necessary to own its Properties and carry on its business as its business is now being conducted as described in the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, except

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where the failure to obtain such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not reasonably be expected to have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualifications necessary, except where failure so to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect. 

          Section 3.02     Purchased Units, Capitalization and Valid Issuance.

	
  
 
  	
  
          (a)          The   Purchased Common Units shall have those rights, preferences, privileges and   restrictions governing the Common Units as set forth in the Partnership   Agreement. A true and correct copy of the Partnership Agreement, as amended   through the date hereof (but excluding the Class B Amendment), has been filed   by U.S. Shipping with the Commission as Exhibit 3.2 to U.S. Shipping’s   Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The   Purchased Class B Units shall have those rights, preferences, privileges and   restrictions governing the Class B Units, which shall be reflected in the   Partnership Agreement, as amended by the Class B Amendment.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (b)          As   of the date of this Agreement, the issued and outstanding limited partner   interests of U.S. Shipping consist of 6,899,968 Common Units, 6,899,968   Subordinated Units, all of which are owned by United States Shipping Master   LLC, and the Incentive Distribution Rights (each as defined in the   Partnership Agreement) and the only issued and outstanding general partner   interest is the General Partner’s 2% general partner interest. All of the   outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution   Rights have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with   applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement and are fully paid (to the   extent required under applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement) and   nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections   17-303, 17-607 and
17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (c)          Other   than U.S. Shipping’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), U.S.   Shipping has no equity compensation plans that contemplate the issuance of   Common Units (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common   Units).  No indebtedness having the   right to vote (or convertible into or exchangeable for securities having the   right to vote) on any matters on which U.S. Shipping’s Unitholders may vote   is issued or outstanding.  Except as   set forth in the first sentence of this Section 3.02(c), as   contemplated by this Agreement, or as are contained in the Partnership   Agreement, there are no outstanding or authorized (i) options, warrants,   preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls, convertible securities or other   rights, agreements or commitments of any character obligating U.S.
Shipping   or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any limited partner   interests or other equity interests in, U.S. Shipping or any of its   Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such limited   partner interests or other equity interests, (ii) obligations of U.S.   Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise   acquire any limited partner interests or other equity interests of U.S.   Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements   listed in clause (i) of this sentence or (iii) voting trusts or similar agreements   to which U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to   the voting of the equity interests of U.S. Shipping or 
  

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any of its   Subsidiaries, other than the pledge of units or shares of its Subsidiaries to   its lenders.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (d)          (i)   All of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of U.S. Shipping’s   Subsidiaries are owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S. Shipping free and   clear of any Liens (except for such restrictions as may exist under   applicable Law and except for such Liens as may be imposed under U.S.   Shipping’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and the exhibits   thereto filed as exhibits to the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents and the Amended   Credit Facility), and all such ownership interests have been duly authorized,   validly issued and are fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law   and the organizational documents of such Subsidiaries) and non-assessable   (except as nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and   17-804 of the Delaware LP Act  and   Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the
Delaware LLC Act, as applicable, or the   organizational documents of such Subsidiaries,) and free of preemptive   rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof, and   (ii) except as disclosed in the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, neither U.S.   Shipping nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any shares of capital stock or   other securities of, or interest in, any other Person, or is obligated to   make any capital contribution to or other investment in any other Person   other than USS Products Investor LLC.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
          (e)          The   offer and sale of the Purchased Units and the limited partner interests   represented thereby have been duly authorized by U.S. Shipping pursuant to   the Partnership Agreement and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers   against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will   be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law and   the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability   may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act)   and will be free of any and all Liens and restrictions on transfer, other   than restrictions on transfer under the Partnership Agreement and under   applicable state and federal securities Laws and other than such Liens as are   created by the Purchasers.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (f)          The   Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Class B Units, and the limited   partner interests represented thereby, upon issuance in accordance with the   terms of the Class B Units as reflected in the Class B Amendment, and upon   receipt of the required Unitholder approval, will be duly authorized by U.S.   Shipping pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, and will be validly issued,   fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law and the Partnership   Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected   by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804    of the Delaware LP Act) and will be free of any and all Liens and   restrictions on transfer, other than restrictions on transfer under the   Partnership Agreement and under applicable state and federal securities Laws   and other than such Liens as are
created by the Purchasers.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
          (g)          U.S.   Shipping’s currently outstanding Common Units are quoted on the NYSE and U.S.   Shipping has not received any notice of delisting.  The Purchased Common Units and Class B Units will be issued in   compliance with all applicable rules of the NYSE.  Prior to the Closing, U.S. Shipping will file a supplemental   listing application
  

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with the   NYSE to list the Purchased Common Units and the Common Units underlying the   Class B Units.
  

          Section 3.03     U.S. Shipping SEC Documents.  U.S. Shipping has timely filed with the Commission all  reports, schedules and statements required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act  since its initial public offering (all such documents filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement, collectively, the “U.S. Shipping SEC Documents”).  The U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, including any audited or unaudited financial statements and any notes thereto or schedules included therein, at the time filed  (except to the extent corrected by a subsequently filed U.S. Shipping SEC Document filed prior to the date of this Agreement) (i) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (ii) complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, (iii) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto, (iv) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the Commission) and (v) fairly present (subject in the case of unaudited statements to normal, recurring and year-end audit adjustments) in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to U.S. Shipping and has not resigned or been
dismissed as independent registered public accountants of U.S. Shipping as a result of or in connection with any disagreement with U.S. Shipping on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures.

          Section
3.04     No Material Adverse Change. 
Except as set forth in or contemplated by the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, since
December 31, 2005, U.S. Shipping and its Subsidiaries have conducted their
business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, and there has
been no (i) change that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a U.S.
Shipping Material Adverse Effect, (ii) acquisition or disposition of any
material asset by U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or any contract or
arrangement therefor, otherwise than for fair value in the ordinary course of
business, (iii) material change in U.S. Shipping’s accounting principles,
practices or methods or (iv) incurrence of material indebtedness (other than in
connection with the Notes Offering, the Amended Credit Facility and the Joint
Venture Transaction).

          Section 3.05     Litigation.  Except as set forth in the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, there is no Action pending or, to the knowledge of U.S. Shipping, contemplated or threatened against U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers (in their capacity as such), directors (in their capacity as such), Properties, which (individually or in the aggregate) reasonably would be expected to have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect or which challenges the validity of this Agreement or which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect or restrict U.S. Shipping’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents.

          Section 3.06     No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance by U.S. Shipping of the Basic Documents to which it is a party and all other agreements and instruments to be

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executed and delivered by U.S. Shipping pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith and therewith, and compliance by U.S. Shipping with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof, do not and will not (a) violate any provision of any Law, governmental permit, determination or award having applicability to U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties, (b) conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the organizational documents of U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to, the threshold with respect to the number of Units owned by Non-U.S. Citizens (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) that may hold units in U.S. Shipping under the Partnership Agreement, assuming the accuracy of the statements in each Purchaser’s Admission Application, (c) require any consent, approval or notice under or result in a violation or breach of or constitute (with or without due
notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under (i) any note, bond, mortgage, license, or loan or credit agreement to which U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties may be bound or (ii) any other agreement, instrument or obligation, or (d) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Properties now owned or hereafter acquired by U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries, other than pursuant to the Amended Credit Facility and the Notes Offering, except in the cases of clauses (a), (c) and (d) where such violation, default, breach, termination, cancellation, failure to receive consent or approval, or acceleration with respect to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.06 would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect. 

          Section
3.07     Authority.  U.S. Shipping has all
necessary limited partnership power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under the Basic Documents to which it is a party and to
consummate the transactions contemplated thereby; the execution, delivery and
performance by U.S. Shipping of the Basic Documents to which it is a party, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on its part; and the Basic Documents
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of U.S. Shipping (subject to
Unitholder approval of the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units),
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity, including principles of
commercial reasonableness, fair dealing and good faith. Except as contemplated
by this Agreement, no approval by U.S. Shipping’s Unitholders is required
as a result of U.S. Shipping’s issuance and sale of the Purchased Units.

          Section 3.08     Compliance with Laws. Neither U.S. Shipping nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any Law applicable to U.S. Shipping or its Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect.  U.S. Shipping and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect, and neither U.S. Shipping nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit, except
where such potential revocation or modification would not have, individually in the aggregate, a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect.  Neither U.S. Shipping, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor

11

any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.

          Section 3.09     Preemptive Rights or Registration Rights.  Except as set forth in the agreement of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of U.S. Shipping and its  Subsidiaries, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any capital stock or partnership or membership interests of U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case pursuant to or any other agreement or instrument to which any of such entities is a party or by which any one of them may be bound. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the issuance of the Purchased Units as contemplated by this Agreement or the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of
any Partnership Securities, other than pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. 

          Section 3.10     Insurance.  U.S. Shipping and its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent for the businesses in which they are engaged in the good faith determination of the board of directors of the general partner of U.S. Shipping.  U.S. Shipping does not have any reason to believe that it nor any Subsidiary will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

          Section 3.11     Internal Accounting Controls.  U.S. Shipping and its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  U.S. Shipping is not aware of any material failure of such internal accounting controls

          Section 3.12     Approvals.  Except as required by the Commission in connection with U.S. Shipping’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the Notes Offering and Unitholder approval of the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units, no authorization, consent, approval, waiver, license, qualification or written exemption from, nor any filing, declaration, qualification or registration with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by U.S. Shipping of any of the Basic Documents to which it is a party, except (i) as may be required under the state securities or “Blue Sky” Laws, (or (ii) where the failure to receive such authorization, consent, approval, waiver,
license, qualification

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or written exemption or to make such filing, declaration, qualification or registration would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect.

          Section 3.13     MLP Status.  U.S. Shipping has, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2003 during which U.S. Shipping was in existence, met the gross income requirements of Section 7704(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          Section 3.14     Investment Company Status.  U.S. Shipping is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          Section 3.15     Offering.  Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained in this Agreement, the sale and issuance of the Purchased Units pursuant to this Agreement is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither U.S. Shipping nor, to U.S. Shipping’s knowledge, any authorized Representative acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemption.

          Section 3.16     Certain Fees.  Other than fees payable to Lehman Brothers Inc. and CIBC Global Markets for their services as placement agents, no fees or commissions will be payable by U.S. Shipping to brokers, finders, or investment bankers with respect to the sale of any of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The Purchasers shall not be liable for any such fees or commissions.  U.S. Shipping agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless each of the Purchasers from and against any and all claims, demands, or liabilities for broker’s, finder’s, placement, or other similar fees or commissions incurred by U.S. Shipping or alleged to have been incurred by U.S. Shipping in connection with the sale of Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

          Section 3.17     No Side Agreements.  Except for the confidentiality agreements described in Section 8.06, there are no other agreements by, among or between U.S. Shipping or its Affiliates, on the one hand, and any of the Purchasers or their Affiliates, on the other hand, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby nor promises or inducements for future transactions between or among any of such parties.

          Section 3.18     Form S-3 Eligibility.  U.S. Shipping is eligible to register the Purchased Common Units and the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Purchased Class B Units for resale by the Purchasers on a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

          Section 3.19     Terms of Class B Units;  Class B Unit Vote.  The NYSE has approved the terms of the Class B Units.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast by the holders of Common Units is required by the NYSE to approve the conversion of Class B Units into Common Units. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the Common Units outstanding (excluding Common Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) and of a majority of the Subordinated Units outstanding, each voting as a separate class, is required to approve the conversion of Class B Units into Common Units for the Common Units issued upon

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such conversion to not be counted against the “basket” provided in Section 5.7(a) of the Partnership Agreement.  

ARTICLE IV
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EACH PURCHASER

          Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to U.S. Shipping with respect to itself, on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

          Section 4.01     Valid Existence.  Such Purchaser (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and (ii) has all requisite power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to own its Properties and carry on its business as its business is now being conducted, except where the failure to obtain such licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

          Section 4.02     No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of the Basic Documents to which it is a party and all other agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered by such Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith, compliance by such Purchaser with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof, and the purchase of the Purchased Units by such Purchaser do not and will not (a) violate any provision of any Law, governmental permit, determination or award having applicability to such Purchaser or any of its Properties, (b) conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the organizational documents of such Purchaser, or (c) require any consent (other than standard internal consents), approval or notice under or result in a violation or breach of
or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under (i) any note, bond, mortgage, license, or loan or credit agreement to which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser or any of its Properties may be bound or (ii) any other such agreement, instrument or obligation, except in the case of clauses (a) and (c), where such violation, default, breach, termination, cancellation, failure to receive consent or approval, or acceleration with respect to the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.02 would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

          Section
4.03     Investment.  The Purchased Units
are being acquired for such Purchaser’s own account, or the accounts of
clients for whom such Purchaser exercises discretionary investment authority,
not as a nominee or agent, and with no present intention of distributing the
Purchased Units or any part thereof, and that such Purchaser has no present
intention of selling or granting any participation in or otherwise distributing
the same in any transaction in violation of the securities Laws of the United
States of America or any state, without prejudice, however, to such
Purchaser’s right at all times (subject to such Purchaser’s agreement
contained in Section 5.06) to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any
part of the Purchased Units under a registration statement under the Securities
Act and applicable state securities Laws or under an exemption from such registration available
thereunder (including, without limitation, if available, Rule 144
promulgated thereunder). If such Purchaser should in the future decide to
dispose of any of the Purchased Units, such Purchaser understands and agrees
(a) that it may do so only (i) in compliance with the Securities Act
and applicable state securities law, as then in effect, or
(ii) in

14

the manner contemplated by any registration statement pursuant to which such securities are being offered, and (b) that stop-transfer instructions to that effect will be in effect with respect to such securities.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Purchaser may enter into a total return swap with respect to such Purchaser’s Purchased Units with a third party provided that such transaction is exempt from registration under the Securities Act.

          Section 4.04     Nature of Purchaser.  Such Purchaser represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with, U.S. Shipping that, (a) it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act and (b) by reason of its business and financial experience it has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Purchased Units, is able to bear the economic risk of such investment and, at the present time, would be able to afford a complete loss of such investment.  Furthermore, each Purchaser will complete a Questionnaire in the form attached as Exhibit F hereto and deliver such completed eligibility
questionnaire to U.S. Shipping at Closing, and the answers thereto will be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

          Section 4.05     Receipt of Information; Authorization.  Such Purchaser acknowledges that it (a) has access to the U.S. Shipping’s SEC Documents and (b) has been provided a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from Representatives of U.S. Shipping regarding such matters, including with respect to the Joint Venture Transaction.  

          Section 4.06     Restricted Securities.  Such Purchaser understands that the Purchased Units it is purchasing are characterized as “restricted securities” under the federal securities Laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from U.S. Shipping in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such Laws and applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances. In this connection, Purchaser represents that it is knowledgeable with respect to Rule 144 of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act. 

          Section 4.07     Certain Fees.  No fees or commissions will be payable by such Purchaser to brokers, finders, or investment bankers with respect to the sale of any of the Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Such Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, that it will indemnify and hold harmless U.S. Shipping from and against any and all claims, demands, or liabilities for broker’s, finder’s, placement, or other similar fees or commissions incurred by such Purchaser or alleged to have been incurred by such Purchaser in connection with the purchase of Purchased Units or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          Section 4.08     Legend.  It is understood that the certificates evidencing the Purchased Units will bear the following legend: 

	
  
 
  	
  
“These securities have not been registered under the Securities Act   of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any   state or other jurisdiction.  These   securities may not be sold, offered for sale, pledged or hypothecated except pursuant   to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant   to an 
  

15

	
  
 
  	
  
exemption from registration thereunder, in each case in accordance   with all applicable securities laws of the states or other jurisdictions, and   in the case of a transaction exempt from registration, such securities may   only be transferred if the transfer agent for such securities has received   documentation satisfactory to it that such transaction does not require   registration under the Securities Act.”
  

          Section 4.09     Related Parties.

	
   
  	
  
                         (a)          Each   Purchaser identified on Schedule 2.01 hereto as not being a   “related party” of U.S. Shipping represents and warrants to, and covenants   and agrees with, U.S. Shipping that such Purchaser is not an officer or   director of U.S. Shipping and, on the date hereof and as of the date of   Closing (before giving effect to the purchase of Purchased Units pursuant to   this Agreement), such Purchaser and its Affiliates (a) hold less than   five percent of the Common Units of U.S. Shipping outstanding on the date   hereof and (b) hold less than five percent of the outstanding voting power of   U.S. Shipping.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Each   Purchaser identified on Schedule 2.01 hereto as being a “related   party” of U.S. Shipping represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees   with, U.S. Shipping that such Purchaser is purchasing less than one percent   of the outstanding Common Units of U.S. Shipping on the date hereof.
  

ARTICLE V
 COVENANTS

          Section 5.01     Shareholder Vote With Respect to Conversion.

	
  
 
  	
  

                         (a)          U.S.
Shipping shall, in accordance with applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement,
take all action necessary to convene a meeting of its Unitholders to consider and
vote upon the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than 120 days from the Closing
Date.  Subject to fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the Board of
Directors shall, in connection with such meeting, recommend approval of the
conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units and shall take all other
lawful action to solicit the approval of the conversion of the Class B Units
into Common Units by the Unitholders, except that U.S. Shipping may, but shall
not be required to, hire any proxy solicitation firm in connection with such
meeting.
 
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          If   the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units is not approved by the   Unitholders at the meeting contemplated by clause (a) or at successive   meeting(s) as contemplated by this clause (b), upon written notice   from the Purchasers holding a majority of the Class B Units, U.S. Shipping   shall be obligated to convene another meeting of its Unitholders on the terms   set forth in clause (a) (except that such meeting shall take place not   later than 180 days from the date of the immediately prior meeting if a   meeting within 120 days is not approved by the NYSE), and the Board of   Directors shall again be obligated to take the actions set forth in clause   (a) with respect to such
meeting.
  

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          Section 5.02     Second Quarter Distribution.  If the Closing is after the record date of the distribution to Unitholders with respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2006 (the “Second Quarter Distribution”), then the Purchasers shall receive: (i) a discount on the Class B Unit Price equal to of the Second Quarter Distribution and (ii) a discount on the Common Unit Price equal to the Second Quarter Distribution.

          Section 5.03     Subsequent Issuances of Units.  Without the written consent of the holders of a majority of the Purchased Units, from the date of this Agreement until the Lock-Up Date, U.S. Shipping and US Shipping General Partner LLC shall not grant, issue or sell any limited partner interests or other equity securities, any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any limited partner interests or other equity securities, or take any other action that may result in the issuance of any of the foregoing, other than (i) options to purchase Common Units or awards of restricted Common Units granted pursuant to the LTIP, (ii) Common Units issued upon the exercise of options granted under the LTIP and (iii) the issuance or sale of Common Units or Class B Units at a price no less than $24.00 (including, and not net of, any underwriting
discounts and commissions or placement fees).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, U.S. Shipping and US Shipping General Partner LLC, shall not, and shall cause their Subsidiaries not to, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy any security (as defined in the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the sale of the Purchased Units in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Purchased Units to the Purchasers.  

          Section 5.04     Vote For Conversion of Class B Units.  At any meeting (including adjournments or postponements thereof) of U.S. Shipping’s Unitholders held to consider approval of the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units (including the special meeting of Unitholders contemplated by Section 5.01) each of the Purchasers agrees to vote, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Affiliates to vote, any Common Units or Subordinated Units held by it or any such Affiliates, as applicable, on the record date for such meeting in favor of the conversion of the Class B Units into Common Units.

          Section 5.05     Joint Venture Transaction.  U.S. Shipping shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all action and to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law and regulations to consummate the Joint Venture Transaction. Within  ten Business Days of the consummation of the Joint Venture Transaction, U.S. Shipping shall host a public conference call  to discuss recent partnership events. 

          Section 5.06     Purchaser Lock-Up.  Each Purchaser agrees that from and after the Closing it will not sell any of its Purchased Units prior to the Lock-Up Date; provided, however, that any Purchaser may enter into a total return swap or similar transaction with respect to the Purchased Units purchased by such Purchaser.

          Section 5.07     Taking of Necessary Action.  Each of the Parties hereto shall use its commercially reasonable efforts promptly to take or cause to be taken all action and promptly to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing, U.S. Shipping and each Purchaser will, and U.S. Shipping shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make all filings and

17

obtain all consents of Governmental Authorities that may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Purchasers or U.S. Shipping, as the case may be, advisable for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents.

          Section 5.08     Disclosure; Public Filings.  U.S. Shipping  may, without prior written consent or notice, disclose the name or identity of any of the Purchasers (but no other information regarding such Purchaser) in any press release or Current Report on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act filed as a result of this Agreement, the other Basic Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby, or other similarly required Exchange Act reports, or as required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of the NYSE or other exchange on which securities of U.S. Shipping are listed or traded; provided that each of Energy Income and Growth Fund and EGI-Fund (05-07) Investors, L.L.C. shall not be named in any such press release without the written consent of such Purchaser.

          Section 5.09     Other Actions.  U.S. Shipping shall (i) cause the Class B Amendment to be adopted immediately prior to the issuance and sale of the Class B Units contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) file prior to the Closing a supplemental listing application with the NYSE to list the Purchased Common Units and the Common Units underlying the Class B Units.

          Section 5.10     Use of Proceeds.  U.S. Shipping will use the collective proceeds from the sale of the Purchased Units, the Notes Offering and the Amended Credit Facility to fund the construction of at least three new ATBs, to fund equity contributions to the Joint Venture, to refinance existing indebtedness, to pay fees associated with such transaction and for general partnership purposes. 

ARTICLE VI
 CLOSING CONDITIONS

          Section 6.01     Conditions to the Closing.

	
  
 
  	
  
                         (a)          Mutual   Conditions.  The respective   obligation of each Party to consummate the purchase and issuance and sale of   the Purchased Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the   Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be   waived by a particular Party on behalf of itself in writing, in whole or in   part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (i)          no   Law shall have been enacted or promulgated, and no action shall have been   taken, by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction which   temporarily, preliminarily or permanently restrains, precludes, enjoins or   otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this   Agreement or makes the transactions contemplated by this Agreement  illegal;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (ii)          there   shall not be pending any Action by any Governmental Authority seeking to   restrain, preclude, enjoin or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this   Agreement; and
  

18

	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iii)          U.S.   Shipping shall have concurrently closed the (A) Notes Offering; (B) Amended   Credit Agreement; and (C) Joint Venture Transaction, which closing shall   include, in the case of the Joint Venture Transaction, (w) execution and   delivery of the Limited Liability Company Agreement of USS Products Investor   LLC  by the members thereof, (x) the execution and delivery of   the Management and Operating Agreement between USS Product Manager LLC   and USS Product Investors LLC  by such parties,  (y)   the delivery of the letter of credit contemplated under the Limited   Liability Company Agreement of USS Products Investor LLC  for the
 benefit of the Class B Member (as defined therein) and (z) the execution   and delivery by General Dynamics Corporation of its   performance guarantee pursuant to  the    Construction  Contract.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Each   Purchaser’s Conditions.  The   respective obligation of each Purchaser to consummate the purchase of its   Purchased Units shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to the   Closing Date of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be   waived by a particular Purchaser on behalf of itself in writing, in whole or   in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (i)          U.S.   Shipping shall have performed and complied with the covenants and agreements   contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed and complied   with by U.S. Shipping on or prior to the Closing Date;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (ii)          the   representations and warranties of U.S. Shipping contained in this Agreement   that are qualified by materiality or U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect   shall be true and correct when made and as of the Closing Date and all other   representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material   respects when made and as of the Closing Date, in each case as though made at   and as of the Closing Date (except that representations made as of a specific   date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iii)          since   the date of this Agreement, no U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect shall   have occurred and be continuing;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iv)          no   notice of delisting from the NYSE shall have been received by U.S. Shipping with   respect to the Common Units, and  U.S.   Shipping shall have filed a supplemental listing application with the NYSE   relating to the Purchased Common Units and the Common Units underlying the   Class B Units;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (v)          the
Class B Amendment in all material respects in the form attached as Exhibit A to
this Agreement shall have been duly adopted and be in full force; and

	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

                              (vi)          U.S.
Shipping shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Purchasers at
the Closing, U.S. Shipping’s closing deliveries described in Section 6.02.
 
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (c)          U.S.   Shipping’s Conditions.  The   obligation of U.S. Shipping to consummate the sale of the Purchased Units to   each of the Purchasers shall be subject to
  

19

	
  
 
  	
  
the   satisfaction on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following   conditions with respect to each Purchaser individually and not the Purchasers   jointly (any or all of which may be waived by U.S. Shipping in writing, in   whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (i)          each   Purchaser shall have performed and complied with the covenants and agreements   contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed and complied   with by that Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (ii)          the   representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in this Agreement   that are qualified by materiality or Purchaser Material Adverse Effect shall   be true and correct when made and as of the Closing Date and all other   representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material   respects when made and as of the Closing Date, in each case as though made at   and as of the Closing Date (except that representations made as of a specific   date shall be required to be true and correct as of such date only);
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iii)          since   the date of this Agreement, no Purchaser Material Adverse Effect shall have   occurred and be continuing;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iv)          the   funds escrowed pursuant to the Escrow Agreement shall have been released to   U.S. Shipping;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (v)          each   Escrow Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, such Escrow   Purchaser’s closing deliveries described in Section 6.03(a);
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (vi)          each
Non-Escrow Purchaser shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to U.S.
Shipping at the Closing, such Non-Escrow Purchaser’s closing deliveries
described in Section 6.03(b);
 
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (vii)          each   Escrow Purchaser and each Non-Escrow Purchaser shall have delivered, or   caused to be delivered, to U.S. Shipping at the Closing, such Purchaser’s   closing deliveries described in Section 6.03(c).
  

          Section 6.02     U.S. Shipping Deliveries.   At the Closing, subject to the terms and   conditions of this Agreement, U.S. Shipping will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Purchaser: 

	
  
 
  	
  
                         (a)          The   Purchased Units by delivering certificates (bearing the legend set forth in   Section 4.08) evidencing such Purchased Units at the Closing, all free and   clear of any Liens, encumbrances or interests of any other party other than   restrictions on transfer imposed by federal and state securities Laws and   those imposed by Purchaser;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Copies   of (i) the Certificate of Limited Partnership of U.S. Shipping and (ii) the   Certificate of Formation of the General Partner, each certified by the   Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated as of a recent date;
  

20

	
  
 
  	
  
                         (c)          A   certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated as of a   recent date, that U.S. Shipping is in good standing;
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (d)          A   cross-receipt, dated the Closing Date, executed by U.S. Shipping and   delivered to each Purchaser certifying that it has received the Allocated   Purchase Price with respect to the Purchased Units issued and sold to such   Purchaser;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (e)          An   Officer’s Certificate substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as   Exhibit B;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (f)          An   opinion addressed to the Purchasers from legal counsel to U.S. Shipping,   dated the Closing Date, substantially similar in substance to the form of   opinion attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C; and
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (g)          The   Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached to this   Agreement as Exhibit D, which shall have been duly executed by U.S.   Shipping.
  

          Section 6.03     Purchaser Deliveries.  

	
  
 
  	
  
                        (a)          Deliveries   by Escrow Purchasers. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,   each Escrow Purchaser will deliver, or cause to be delivered:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (i)          At   least one Business Day prior to Closing, payment of such Escrow Purchaser’s   Allocated Purchase Price by wire transfer(s) of immediately available funds   to an account designated in the Escrow Agreement; and
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (ii)          At   the Closing,  each Escrow Purchaser   shall have delivered notice to the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow  Agent to release the funds escrowed   pursuant to the Escrow Agreement to U.S. Shipping.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Deliveries   by Non-Escrow Purchasers.  Subject to   the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each non-Escrow Purchaser will   deliver, or cause to be delivered, at the Closing, payment to U.S. Shipping   of such non-Escrow Purchaser’s Allocated Purchase Price by wire transfer(s)   of immediately available funds to an account designated by U.S. Shipping in   writing at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
                         (c)          Deliveries   by Escrow Purchasers and Non-Escrow Purchasers.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each   Escrow Purchaser and Non-Escrow Purchaser will deliver, or cause to be   delivered, to U.S. Shipping at the Closing:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

                              (i)          the
Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit D, which shall have been duly executed by each Purchaser;
and
 

21

	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (ii)          a
cross-receipt, dated the Closing Date, executed by each Purchaser and delivered
to U.S. Shipping certifying that such Purchaser has received certificates
evidencing the number of Purchased Units set forth opposite the name of such
Purchaser on Schedule 2.01;
 
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iii)          an   Officer’s Certificate substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as   Exhibit E;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                              (iv)          a   complete an eligibility questionnaire in the form attached as Exhibit F   hereto; and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

                              (v)          an
Application for Admission  requesting admission to U.S. Shipping as a
substitute limited partner substantially in the form attached to this Agreement
as Exhibit H (an “Admission Application”).
 

ARTICLE VII
 INDEMNIFICATION, COSTS AND EXPENSES

          Section 7.01     Indemnification by U.S. Shipping.  U.S. Shipping agrees to indemnify each Purchaser and its Representatives (collectively, “Purchaser Related Parties”) from, and hold each of them harmless against any and all actions, suits, proceedings (including any investigations, litigation or inquiries), demands and causes of action, and, in connection therewith, and promptly on demand, pay and reimburse each of them costs, losses, liabilities,  damages, or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of them as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to the
breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of U.S. Shipping contained herein; provided that such claim for indemnification relating to a breach of a representation or warranty is made prior to the expiration of such representation or warranty; and provided further, that no Purchaser Related Party shall be entitled to recover special, consequential (including lost profits or diminution in value) or punitive damages.

          Section
7.02     Indemnification by Purchasers. Each
Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify U.S. Shipping and its
Representatives (collectively, “U.S. Shipping Related Parties”)
from, and hold each of them harmless against, any and all actions, suits,
proceedings (including any investigations, litigation, or inquiries), demands
and causes of action and, in connection therewith, and promptly upon demand, pay
and reimburse each of them costs, losses, liabilities,  damages, or
expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and all other reasonable expenses
incurred in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to defend any
such matter that may be incurred by them or asserted against or involve any of
them as a result of, arising out of, or in any way related to the breach of any
of the representations, warranties or covenants of such Purchaser contained
herein; provided that such claim for indemnification relating to a breach
of a representation or warranty is made prior to the expiration of such
representation or warranty; and provided further, that no U.S. Shipping
Related Party shall be entitled to recover special,, consequential (including
lost profits or diminution in value) or punitive damages.

22

          Section 7.03     Indemnification Procedure.          Promptly after any U.S. Shipping Related Party or Purchaser Related Party (hereinafter, the “Indemnified Party”) has received notice of any indemnifiable claim hereunder, or the commencement of any action or proceeding by a third party, which the Indemnified Party believes in good faith is an indemnifiable claim under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the indemnitor hereunder (the “Indemnifying Party”) written notice of such claim or the commencement of such action or proceeding, but failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability it may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially
prejudiced by such failure. Such notice shall state the nature and the basis of such claim to the extent then known.  The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend and settle, at its own expense and by its own counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, any such matter as long as the Indemnifying Party pursues the same diligently and in good faith. If the Indemnifying Party undertakes to defend or settle, it shall promptly notify the Indemnified Party of its intention to do so, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in all commercially reasonable respects in the defense thereof and the settlement thereof. Such cooperation shall include furnishing the Indemnifying Party with any books, records and other information reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party and in the Indemnified Party’s possession or control.  Such cooperation of the Indemnified Party shall be at the cost of the Indemnifying Party. 
After the Indemnifying Party has notified the Indemnified Party of its intention to undertake to defend or settle any such asserted liability, and for so long as the Indemnifying Party diligently pursues such defense, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any additional legal expenses incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with any defense or settlement of such asserted liability; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall be entitled (i) at its expense, to participate in the defense of such asserted liability and the negotiations of the settlement thereof and (ii) if (A) the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party or (B) if the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the Indemnified Party that are different from or in addition to
those available to the Indemnifying Party or if the interests of the Indemnified Party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the Indemnifying Party, then the Indemnified Party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party as incurred.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not settle any indemnified claim without the consent of the Indemnified Party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, involves no admission of wrongdoing or malfeasance by, and includes a complete release from liability of, the Indemnified Party.

ARTICLE VIII
 MISCELLANEOUS

          Section 8.01     Interpretation.          Article, Section, Schedule, and Exhibit references are to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts, and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts, and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented, and otherwise modified from time to time, unless 

23

otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to.”  Whenever U.S. Shipping has an obligation under the Basic Documents, the expense of complying with such obligation shall be an expense of U.S. Shipping unless otherwise specified therein.  Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Purchaser under the Basic Documents, such action shall be in such Purchaser’s sole discretion unless otherwise specified therein.  If any provision in the Basic Documents is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the Basic Documents shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of the Basic Documents, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The Basic Documents have been reviewed and negotiated by sophisticated
parties with access to legal counsel and shall not be construed against the drafter. 

          Section 8.02     Survival of Provisions.  The representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 3.06(b), 3.07, 3.09, 3.12, 3.13, 3.16, 3.17, 4.01, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08 and 4.09 of this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement indefinitely, and the other representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement shall survive for a period of twelve (12) months following the Closing Date regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of U.S. Shipping or any Purchaser.  The covenants made in this Agreement or any other Basic Document shall survive the closing of the transactions described herein and remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of acceptance of any of the Purchased Units and payment therefor and repayment, conversion or repurchase thereof.
All indemnification obligations of U.S. Shipping and the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect unless such obligations are expressly terminated in a writing by the Parties, regardless of any purported general termination of this Agreement. 

          Section 8.03     No Waiver; Modifications in Writing.

	
  
 
  	
  
                         (a)          Delay.  No failure or delay on the part of any   Party in exercising any right, power, or remedy hereunder shall operate as a   waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right,   power, or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise   of any right, power, or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are   cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to a   Party at Law or in equity or otherwise.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Specific   Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment, waiver,   consent, modification, or termination of any provision of this Agreement or   any other Basic Document shall be effective unless signed by each of Parties   or each of the original signatories thereto affected by such amendment,   waiver, consent, modification, or termination. Any amendment, supplement or   modification of or to any provision of this Agreement or any other Basic   Document, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Basic   Document, and any consent to any departure by U.S. Shipping from the terms of   any provision of this Agreement or any other Basic Document shall be   effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for   which made or given.  Except where   notice is specifically required by this Agreement, no notice to or demand on   U.S. Shipping in any case shall entitle U.S. Shipping to any other or further   notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
  

24

          Section 8.04     Binding Effect; Assignment.

	
  
 
  	
  
                         (a)          Binding   Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon U.S. Shipping, each   Purchaser, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as   expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not be construed   so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the Parties   to this Agreement and as provided in Article VII, and their respective   successors and permitted assigns.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Assignment   of Purchased Units. All or any portion of a Purchaser’s Purchased Units   purchased pursuant to this Agreement may be sold, assigned or pledged by   such  Purchaser, subject to compliance   with applicable securities Laws, Section 5.06 and the Registration   Rights Agreement.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (c)          Assignment   of Rights. Each Purchaser under this Agreement may assign all or any   portion of its rights hereunder to (i) any Affiliate of such Purchaser or   (ii) in connection with a total return swap or similar transaction with   respect to the Purchased Units purchased by such Purchaser; provided, in each   case, the assignee shall be deemed to be a Purchaser hereunder with respect   to such assigned rights and shall agree to be bound by the provisions of this   Agreement.  Except as expressly   permitted by this Section 8.04(c), such rights may not otherwise be   transferred except with the prior written consent of U.S. Shipping (which   consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (d)          Limitation   on Assignment for U.S. Citizens.    Any Purchaser that has certified it is a U.S. Citizen (as defined in   the  Admission Application  attached as Exhibit H hereto) in   such  Admission Application may only   make an assignment pursuant to this Sections 8.04(b) and 8.04(c) above if the   assignee also qualifies as a U.S. Citizen (as defined in the  Admission Application) or with the prior   written consent of U.S. Shipping.
  

          Section 8.05     Aggregation of Purchased Units.  All Purchased Units held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.

          Section 8.06     Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Purchaser that has executed a confidentiality agreement in favor of U.S. Shipping shall continue to be bound by such confidentiality agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.  

          Section 8.07     Communications.  All notices and demands provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, telecopy, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, electronic mail or personal delivery to the addresses listed in Schedule 8.07 of this Agreement or to such other address as U.S. Shipping or such Purchaser may designate in writing. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; at the time of transmittal, if sent via electronic mail; upon actual receipt if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via telecopy; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery. 

25

          Section 8.08     Removal of Legend.  U.S. Shipping shall remove the legend described in Section 4.08 from the certificates evidencing the Purchased Units at the request of a Purchaser submitting to U.S. Shipping such certificates, together with an opinion of counsel, if required by U.S. Shipping’s transfer agent, to the effect that such legend is no longer required under the Securities Act or applicable state securities Laws, as the case may be, unless U.S. Shipping, with the advice of counsel, reasonably determines that such removal is inappropriate; provided that no such opinion shall be required in the event a Purchaser is effecting a sale of such Purchased Units pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (unless required by the transfer agent with respect to such securities) or an effective registration statement. U.S.
Shipping shall cooperate with such Purchaser to effect removal of such legend.

          Section 8.09     Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the other Basic Documents are intended by the Parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto and thereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein with respect to the rights granted by U.S. Shipping or a Purchaser set forth herein and therein.  This Agreement and the other Basic Documents supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the Parties with respect to such subject matter. 

          Section 8.10     Governing Law. This Agreement will be construed in accordance with and governed by the Laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of Laws. 

          Section 8.11     Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. 

          Section 8.12     Termination.

	
  
 
  	
  
                         (a)          Notwithstanding   anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time   at or prior to the Closing:
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                            (i)          by   the mutual written consent of the Purchasers entitled to purchase a majority   of the Purchased Units and U.S. Shipping;
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

                            (ii)          by the
written consent of the Purchasers entitled to purchase a majority of the
Purchased Units or by U.S. Shipping, (A) if any representation or warranty of
the other party set forth in this Agreement shall be untrue in any material
respect when made, or (B) upon a breach in any material respect of any covenant
or agreement on the part of the other party set forth in this Agreement (either
clause (A) or (B) above being a “Terminating Breach”); provided, that,
each Terminating Breach would cause the conditions to the non-terminating
party’s obligations not to be satisfied and such Terminating Breach is not
cured within 20 days after written notice from the non-breaching party;
or
 

26

	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
                            (iii)          by   a Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s rights and obligations hereunder, if the   Closing shall not have occurred on or prior to August 15, 2006.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (b)          Notwithstanding   anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall automatically terminate   at any time at or prior to the Closing:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                            (i)          if   a statute, rule, order, decree or regulation shall have been enacted or   promulgated, or if any action shall have been taken by any Governmental   Authority of competent jurisdiction which permanently restrains, precludes,   enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the transactions   contemplated by this Agreement or makes the transactions contemplated by this   Agreement illegal;
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                            (ii)          if
the Closing shall not have occurred on or before September 30, 2006; or
 
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
                            (iii)          pursuant
to Section 2.04.
 
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
                         (c)          In   the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Sections 8.12(a)   or 8.12(b), this Agreement shall forthwith become null and void.  In the event of such termination, there   shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto, except as set forth in   Article VII of this Agreement and except with respect to the   requirement to comply with any confidentiality agreement in favor of U.S.   Shipping; provided that nothing   herein shall relieve any party from any liability or obligation with respect   to any willful breach of this Agreement.
  

          Section 8.13     Expenses. U.S. Shipping hereby covenants and agrees to reimburse Baker Botts L.L.P., for reasonable and documented legal fees not to exceed $35,000.  If any action at law or equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of the Basic Documents, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, out-of-pocket costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.

          Section 8.14     Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Purchased Units.  The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of U.S. Shipping or any successor or assign of U.S. Shipping (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Purchased Units, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

27

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written. 

	
  
 
  	
  
U.S. SHIPPING PARTNERS L.P.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
By:
  	
  
US Shipping   General Partner LLC
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
its General Partner
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
By:
  	
  
/s/
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

  

Signature Page to
 Common Unit and Class B Purchase Agreement

Schedule 2.01

Attached hereto

Schedule 2.01

Schedule 2.01(d)

Escrow Purchasers

	
  
1.
  	
  
Sterling   Partners
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
2.
  	
  
Aetna
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
3.
  	
  
Paul Gridley
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
4.
  	
  
Joseph   Gehegan
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  5.
  	
  
Albert   Bergeron
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
6.
  	
  
Alan   Colletti
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
7.
  	
  
Jeffrey Miller
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
8.
  	
  
Ray   Marquardt
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
9.
  	
  
William   Young
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
10.
  	
  
F Dematteis   2001 Trst 7/12/01
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
11.
  	
  
Dematteis   FLP Assets LLC
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
12.
  	
  
The Ronald L   Gallatin Rev Tr Dtd 05/26/2004
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
13.
  	
  
Goldman   Associates
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
14.
  	
  
Peter   Halstead Trust
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
15.
  	
  
Cathy   Halstead Trust
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  16.
  	
  
Eliza   Finkelstein Trust
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
17.
  	
  
Jennifer   Finkelstein Trust
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
18.
  	
  
Stanley   Sirote
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
19.
  	
  
Langer   Investment Partnership
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
20.
  	
  
Eileen   Goldman
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
21.
  	
  
Michael   Goldman
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
22.
  	
  
John D Case
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
23.
  	
  
JT Serko LP
  

Schedule 2.01(d)

Schedule 8.07

Notice and Contact Information

	
  
If to U.S. Shipping Partners L.P.
  	
  
 
  	
  
with a copy to:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
399 Thornall   St., 8th Floor
  	
  
 
  	
  
Roy L.   Goldman
  
	
  Edison,   NJ  08837
  	
  
 
  	
  
Fulbright   & Jaworski L.L.P.,
  
	
  
Attention:
  	
  
 
  	
  
666 Fifth Avenue, New York,
  
	
  
Facsimile:
  	
  
 
  	
  
New York 10103
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to Alerian Capital Partners LP, Alerian Opportunity Partners II LP   or Alerian Focus Partners LP
  	
  
 
  	
  
with a copy to:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
c/o Alerian   Capital Management LLC
  	
  
 
  	
  
Baker Botts   L.L.P.
  
	
  45   Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 2000
  	
  
 
  	
  
1500 San   Jacinto Center
  
	
  
New York,   NY  10111-0100
  	
  
 
  	
  
98 San   Jacinto Blvd.
  
	
  
Attention:  Robert Kad
  	
  
 
  	
  
Austin,   Texas 78701
  
	
  
Phone: (212)   332-7810
  	
  
 
  	
  
Phone: (512)   322.2556
  
	
  
Facsimile:  (212) 332-7806
  	
  
 
  	
  
Facsilie   (512) 322.8377
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
Attention:   Laura L. Tyson
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
laura.tyson@bakerbotts.com
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to Credit Suisse Management LLC:
  	
  
 
  	
  
with a copy to:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Credit   Suisse Management LLC 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
One Madison   Ave
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
New York, NY   10010
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Attention:     Jerrold   Gordon, 2nd floor
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
 
	
  If to EGI-Fund (05-07) Investors, L.L.C.:
  	
  
 
  	
 
with a copy to:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
c/o Equity   Group Investments, L.L.C.
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Two N.   Riverside Plaza, Suite 600
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Chicago, IL   60606
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Facsimile   (312) 454-0335
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Attention:  Nils Larsen and Joseph M. Paolucci
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
jpaolucci@egii.com   and nlarsen@egii.com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  

Schedule 8.07-1

	
  
If to Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund or Energy Income and   Growth Fund:
  	
  
 
  	
  
with a copy to:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
c/o   Fiduciary Asset Management
  	
  
 
  	
  
Vinson &   Elkins LLP
  
	
  
8112   Maryland Avenue, Suite 400
  	
  
 
  	
  
First City   Tower
  
	
  St. Louis MO   63105
  	
  
 
  	
  
1001 Fannin   Street, Suite 2300
  
	
  
Attention:  Jim Cunnane
  	
  
 
  	
  
Houston,   Texas 77002-6760
  
	
  
Facsimile:  (314) 863-4360
  	
  
 
  	
  
Phone: (713)   758.4618
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
Facsimile:  (713) 615.5038
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
Attention:  Thomas P.    Mason
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
tmason@velaw.com
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to GPS Income Fund LP, GPS High Yield Equity Fund LP, GPS Income   Fund (Cayman) Ltd or HFR RVA GPS Master Trust:
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
GPS Partners   LLC
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
100 Wilshire   Blvd
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Suite 900
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Santa   Monica, Ca 90401
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  Attention:   Brett Messing
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Phone: (310)   496-5360
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Facsimile:   (310) 496-5399
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Investments@Gpsfund.Com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to RBC Capital Markets Corporation:
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Joe Muskatel
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  Director and   Senior Counsel
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
RBC Capital   Markets
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
One Liberty   Plaza
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
165   Broadway, 2d floor
  	
  
 
  	
  
with a copy to:
  
	
  
NY NY 10006
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Phone: (212)   858-7492
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Facsimile:   (212) 428-3062
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  joe.muskatel@rbccm.com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to Structured Finance Americas, LLC:
  	
  
 
  	
  
with a copy to:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Alfiya   Hainutdzinava
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
60 Wall   Street
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
MailStop:   NYC60-1408
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
New York, NY   10005 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Phone: (212)   250-5862 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Alfiya.Hainutdzinava@db.com   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  

Schedule 8.07-2

	
  
 
  	
  
Elia   Kourtesiadou
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
60 Wall Street
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
MailStop:   NYC60-1408
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
New York, NY   10005 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Phone: (212)   250-8317 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Elia.Kourtesiadou@db.com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
 
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Jill Rathjen   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
60 Wall   Street 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
New York, NY   10005 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Mail Stop:   NYC60-0443 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Phone: (212)   250-4990 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
jill.rathjen@db.com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to UBS Securities LLC
  	
  
 
  	

with a copy to:
   
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
UBS   Securities LLC
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
677   Washington Boulevard
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Samford, CT   06901 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Attention:  Christopher Coward, Director
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
chris.coward@ubs.com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
If to ZLP Fund LP: 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
John Lee
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
10   Harborside Financial Center, Suite 301
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Jersey City,   NJ 07311
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Phone: (201)   716-1401
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
lee@zimmerlucas.com
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
   
	
  
If to
  	
  
F Dematteis 2001 Trst 7/12/01; 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Dematteis FLP Assets LLC;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
The Ronald L Gallatin Rev Tr Dtd 05/26/2004;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Goldman Associates;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Peter Halstead Trust;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
Cathy Halstead Trust;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Eliza Finkelstein Trust;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Jennifer Finkelstein Trust;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Stanley Sirote; 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Langer Investment Partnership;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
Eileen Goldman;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
Michael Goldman;
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
John D Case; or
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
JT Serko LP:
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  

Schedule 8.07-3

	
  
Ken Witover
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
399 Park   Avenue 06 Floor 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  NY, NY 10022
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Phone: (212)   528-1131 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
kwitover@lehman.com  
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  

Schedule 8.07-4

Exhibit A

Form of Class B Amendment

[to come]

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

U.S. SHIPPING PARTNERS L.P.

Officer’s Certificate

                    Pursuant to Section 6.02(e) of the Common Unit and Class B Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2006 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“U.S. Shipping”), and the Purchasers listed in Schedule 2.01 of the Purchase Agreement (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”) relating to the issuance and sale by U.S. Shipping to the Purchasers of an aggregate of aggregate of 1,310,375 Common Units representing limited partner interests in U.S. Shipping and an aggregate of 3,123,205 Class B Units representing limited partner interests in U.S. Shipping, the undersigned hereby certifies on behalf of U.S. Shipping, as follows:

          (A)          U.S. Shipping has performed and complied with the covenants and agreements contained in the Purchase Agreement that are required to be performed and complied with by U.S. Shipping on or prior to the date hereof;

          (B)          The representations and warranties of U.S. Shipping contained in the Purchase Agreement that are qualified by materiality or U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) are true and correct as of the date of the Purchase Agreement and as of the date hereof and all other representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Purchase Agreement and as of the date hereof, except that representations made as of a specific date are true and correct as of such date only;

          (C)          Since the date of the Purchase Agreement, no U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) has occurred and is continuing; and

          (D)          The Class B Amendment (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) has been adopted in all material respects in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Purchase Agreement.

Dated:  August 7, 2006

	
  
 
  	
  
U.S. SHIPPING PARTNERS L.P.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
By:
  	
  
US Shipping   General Partner LLC
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
its General Partner
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
By:
  	
  
/s/
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

  

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

          Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Common Unit and Class B Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2006  (the “Purchase Agreement”).  U.S. Shipping shall furnish to the Purchasers at the Closing an opinion of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., counsel for U.S. Shipping, addressed to the Purchasers and dated the Closing Date in form satisfactory to Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Purchasers, stating that:

          (a)          U.S. Shipping: (i) is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) is duly qualified to conduct business in the State of New Jersey and (iii) has all requisite limited partnership power and authority necessary to own its Properties and carry on its business as its business is now being conducted as described in the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents. 

          (b)          As
of the date hereof, and prior to the sale and issuance of the Purchased Units as
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the issued and outstanding limited
partner interests of U.S. Shipping consist of 6,899,968 Common Units, 6,899,968
Subordinated Units and the Incentive Distribution Rights.  All of the
outstanding Common Units, Subordinated Units and Incentive Distribution Rights
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid (to the extent
required by applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable
(except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and
17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).

          (c)          To our knowledge, except as described in the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, for options granted pursuant to U.S. Shipping’s LTIP, or as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, there are no outstanding or authorized (i) options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls, convertible securities or other rights, agreements or commitments of any character obligating U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any limited partner interests or other equity interest in U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such limited partner interests or other equity interests, (ii) obligations of U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any limited partner interests or other equity interests in U.S.
Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (i) of this sentence or (iii) voting trusts or similar agreements to which U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of the equity interests of U.S. Shipping or any of its Subsidiaries, other than pursuant to the pledge of units or shares of its Subsidiaries to its lenders.  

          (d)          All of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of U.S. Shipping’s Subsidiaries are owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S. Shipping free and clear of any Liens (A) in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code naming U.S. Shipping as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or (B) otherwise known to us without independent investigation, other than those created under applicable Law and except for such Liens as may be imposed under U.S. Shipping’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and such Liens as may be imposed under the Amended Credit Facility, and all such ownership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued

Exhibit C-1

and are fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law and in the organizational documents of such Subsidiaries) and non-assessable (except as nonassessability may be affected by matters described in Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act or Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware LLC Act, as applicable, or the organizational documents of such  Subsidiaries) and free of preemptive rights.

          (e)          The Purchased Units and the limited partner interests represented thereby, have been duly authorized by U.S. Shipping and, when issued and delivered to the Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act).  

          (f)          The Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Class B Units, and the limited partner interests represented thereby, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Class B Units as reflected in the Partnership Agreement, as amended by the Class B Amendment, have been duly authorized by U.S. Shipping pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required by applicable Law and the Partnership Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 17-303, 17-607 and 17-804 of the Delaware LP Act) and, subject to receipt of the required Unitholder approval, will be validly issued.

          (g)          None
of the offering, issuance and sale by U.S. Shipping of the Purchased Units or
the execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents by U.S. Shipping
(A) constitutes or will constitute a violation of U.S. Shipping’s
Certificate of Formation or Partnership Agreement or any organizational
documents of any of U.S. Shipping’s Subsidiaries, (B) without duplication
of clause (A), constitutes or will constitute a breach or violation of, or a
default under (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such an event), any agreement filed as an exhibit to the U.S.
Shipping SEC Documents, or (C) results or will result in any violation of the
Delaware LP Act, the Delaware LLC Act, the DGCL, the Laws of the State of New
York or U.S. federal Law (except maritime Law, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion), which in the case of clause (B) or (C) of this paragraph
(g) would be reasonably expected to have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse
Effect; provided, however, that no opinion is expressed pursuant to this
paragraph (g) with respect to federal or state securities or anti-fraud
statutes, rules or regulations.

          (h)          Each of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Class B Amendment  has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered on behalf of U.S. Shipping, and is enforceable against U.S. Shipping in accordance with its respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, fair dealing and good faith.

          (i)          Except for the approvals required by the Commission in connection with U.S. Shipping’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and under the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the Notes Offering, no authorization, consent, approval, waiver, license, qualification or written exemption from, nor any filing, declaration,

Exhibit C-2

qualification or registration with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by U.S. Shipping of any of the Basic Documents to which it is a party, except (i) those that have been obtained or may be required under the state securities or “Blue Sky” Laws or under maritime Laws, in each case, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion, or (ii) for such consents which, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a U.S. Shipping Material Adverse Effect.

          (j)          U.S. Shipping is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (k)          Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each Purchaser contained in the Purchase Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is exempt from registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit C-3

Exhibit D

Form of Registration Rights Agreement

[to come]

Exhibit D

Exhibit E

PURCHASER’S OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE

Officer’s Certificate

                          Pursuant to Section 6.03(d) of the Common Unit and Class B Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2006 (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“U.S. Shipping”), and the Purchasers listed in Schedule 2.01 to the Purchase Agreement (each a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”) and relating to the issuance and sale by U.S. Shipping to the Purchasers of an aggregate of 1,310,375 Common Units representing limited partner interests in U.S. Shipping and an aggregate of 3,123,205 Class B Units representing limited partner interests in U.S.  Shipping, each of the undersigned hereby certifies solely on behalf of itself, as follows:

          (A)          Such Purchaser has performed and complied with the covenants and agreements contained in the Purchase Agreement that are required to be performed and complied with by such Purchaser on or prior to the date hereof.

          (B)          The representations and warranties of such Purchaser contained in the Purchase Agreement that are qualified by materiality or Purchaser Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) are true and correct as of the date of the Purchase Agreement and as of the date hereof and all other representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Purchase Agreement and as of the date hereof, except that representations made as of a specific date are true and correct as of such date only.

          (C)          Since the date of the Purchase Agreement, no Purchaser Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) has occurred and is continuing.

Dated:  August 7, 2006

	
  
 
  	
  
[PURCHASER]
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
By:
  	
  
/s/
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
[Name]
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
[Title]
  

Exhibit E

Exhibit F

PURCHASER’S ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS

                    Please indicate the applicable category of “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act, under which the undersigned Purchaser is qualified to purchase Purchased Units, under either Section A or B below and complete the information requested in Section C below.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Common Unit and Class B Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2006,  by and among U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and the Purchasers included in Schedule 2.01 thereto. 

          A.         ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS FOR ENTITIES

	
  
 
  	
  
1.
  	
  
o
  	
  

We are either: a bank as defined in Section
3(a)(2) of the Securities Act acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity; a
savings and loan association or other institution as defined in Section
3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity;
a broker-dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; an insurance company as defined in Section 2(13) of the Securities Act;
an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a
business development company as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940; a small business investment company licensed by the U.S.
Small Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business
Investment Act of 1958; an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Title I
of the employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and
(i) the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in Section
3(21) of ERISA, which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance
company or registered investment adviser, or (ii) the employee benefit plan has
total assets over $5,000,000, or (iii) the employee benefit plan is self
directed and its investment decisions are made solely by persons that are
accredited investors; or a plan established and maintained by a state, its
political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its
political subdivisions for the benefit of its employees, and such plan has total
assets in excess of $5,000,000.
 
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
2.
  	
  
o
  	
  
We are a   private business development company as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the   Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
3.
  	
  
o
  	
  
We are an   organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, a   corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust, or a partnership, not   formed for the specific purpose of acquiring Purchased Units, with total   assets in excess of $5,000,000.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
4.
  	
  
o
  	
  
We are a   trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000 that was not formed for the   specific purpose of purchasing Purchased Units and whose purchase is directed   by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business   matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investing in   U.S. Shipping.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
5.
  	
  
o
  	
  
We are an entity   in which all of the equity owners are accredited investors.
  

Exhibit F-1

          B.         ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS FOR INDIVIDUALS

	
   
  	
  
1.
  	
  
o
  	
  
I am a   director or executive officer of U.S. Shipping.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
2.
  	
  
o
  	
  
I am a   natural person and have a net worth, either alone or with my spouse, of more   than $1,000,000.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
3.
  	
  
o
  	
  
I am a   natural person and had income in excess of $200,000 during each of the   previous two years and reasonably expect to have income in excess of $200,000   during the current year, or joint income with my spouse in excess of $300,000   during each of the previous two years and reasonably expect to have joint   income in excess of $300,000 during the current year.
  

          C.         INFORMATION REQUESTED 

	
  

  	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
Name   of Purchaser
  	
  
 
  	
  
Name   of Joint Purchaser, if applicable
  
	
  
(Please   print. Please indicate name and capacity of person signing above if the   Purchaser is other than a natural person.)
  	
  
 
  	
  
(Please   indicate name and capacity of person signing above if the Purchaser is other   than a natural person.)
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  

  	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Name   in which Purchased Units are to be registered (if different)
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  

  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Email   Address
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  

 

	
  
If the   Purchaser is a natural person, the investor’s State/Province of residence is:   
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  

  
	
  If there are   joint Purchasers, please check one:
  
	
  
o
  	
  
Joint   Tenants with Rights of Survivorship
  
	
  
o
  	
  
Tenants-in-Common
  
	
  
o
  	
  
Community   Property
  
	
  
 
  
	
  
If the   Purchaser is other than a natural person, it:
  
	
  
•
  	
  
is the   following type of organization: _____________.
  
	
  
•
  	
  
is organized   under the laws of: ______________.
  
	
  
•
  	
  
has its   principal place of business in ______________.
  

Exhibit F-2

	
  

  	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
Purchaser’s   Social Security Number or EIN
  	
  
 
  	
  
Joint   Purchaser’s Social Security Number or EIN
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  

  	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
Mailing   Address-Street
  	
  
 
  	
  
Mailing   Address-Street (if different)
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  

  	
   
  	
  

  
	
  
City,   State, Zip
  	
  
 
  	
  
City,   State, Zip
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Attn.:   _______________________________________
  	
  
 
  	
  
Attn.:   _______________________________________
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Telephone   No.: _______________________________
  	
  
 
  	
  
Telephone   No.: _______________________________
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Facsimile   No.: ________________________________
  	
  
 
  	
  
Facsimile   No.: ________________________________
  

Exhibit F-3

Exhibit G 

Escrow Agreement

Attached

Exhibit G

Exhibit H 

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

          The undersigned (“Purchaser”) (a) requests admission as an Additional Limited Partner and agrees to comply with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of U.S. Shipping Partners L.P. (the “Partnership”), as amended, supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the “Partnership Agreement”), (b) represents and warrants that the Purchaser has all right, power and authority and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner of the Partnership and, if a Liquidator shall be appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Purchaser’s attorney-in-fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including, without limitation, the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and the Certificate of Limited
Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Purchaser’s admission as an Additional Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d) gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement, and (e) makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.  

	
  
Date:   _______________________
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
/s/            
  
	
  

  	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
Social   Security or other identifying number
  	
   
 	
  
Signature   of Purchaser
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  

  	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
Purchase   Price including commissions, if any
  	
   
 	
  
Name   and Address of Purchaser
  

 

	
  
Type of Entity (check   one):
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Individual
  	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Partnership
  	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Corporation
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Trust
  	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Other (specify)
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
Nationality (for   taxationpurposes) (check one):
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
U.S. Citizen, Resident or   Domestic Entity
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Foreign Corporation
  	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Non-resident Alien
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  

If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, Certification B-1 must be completed.

          Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person.  To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the undersigned interestholder’s interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies as set forth in B-1 (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the interestholder).

Citizenship (for Maritime purposes—see Maritime Citizenship definitions below) (check one):

	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Citizen of   the United States
  

Exhibit H-1

	
  
 
  	
  
o
  	
  
Citizen of   the United States
  

If a Citizen of the United States box is checked, Certification B-2 must be completed.

Under Part 67 of Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the undersigned is deemed and defined a “Citizen of the United States” (for maritime purposes) if at all tiers of ownership and in both form and substance at each tier of ownership:

	
   
  	  
(a)
  	
    
  If the undersigned is an individual:

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
              (i)          who   is a citizen of the United States, by birth, naturalization, as a derivative   citizen or as otherwise authorized by law, and

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (ii)         who   is (x) free and clear of any trust or fiduciary obligation in favor of, or   control, directly or indirectly, by, non-Citizens of the United States and   (y) not employed by or financially dependent on a non-Citizen of the United   States which is affiliated or associated in any manner with the Partnership   or any partner thereof; or

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	  
(b)
  	
    
  If the undersigned is a corporation:

	
   
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (i)          that   is organized or incorporated under the laws of the United States, or of a   state of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, Guam, Puerto   Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, the   Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United   States (each a “State”),

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (ii)          of   which title to not less than 75% of its stock interest is beneficially owned   by and vested in Persons who are Citizens of the United States, as defined   under the relevant clause (a)–(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the   United States,” free and clear of any trust or fiduciary obligation of any   non-Citizens of the United States,

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (iii)          of   which not less than 75% of the voting power of the stock of such corporation   entitled to vote is beneficially owned by and vested in Citizens of the   United States, as defined under the relevant clause (a)–(g) of this   definition of “Citizen of the United States,” free from any contract or   understanding through which it is arranged that such voting power may be   exercised directly or indirectly on behalf of non-Citizens of the United   States,

	
   
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (iv)          of   which there are no other means by which direct or indirect control is   conferred upon or permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United   States,

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (v)          whose   chief executive officer (by whatever title), chairman of the board of   directors and all officers authorized to act in the absence or disability of   such Persons or otherwise dispose of or control any vessel are Citizens of   the United States, and

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
    
            (vi)          of   which not more than a minority of the number of directors (or equivalent   Persons) necessary to constitute a quorum are non-Citizens of the United   States; or

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
(c)
	
    
  If the undersigned is a partnership:

	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	 	
(i)
	
  
that is organized under the laws of the United States or of a State,
  
	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	 	  
(ii)
	
  
all   general partners of which are Citizens of the United States, as defined under   the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United   States,”
  
	
  
 
  	 	 	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	 	 
(iii)
	
  
of   which not less than a 75% equity interest and voting power is beneficially   owned by and vested in, Persons who are Citizens of the United States, as   defined under the relevant clause (a)–(g) of this definition of “Citizen of   the United States,” free and clear 
  

Exhibit H-2

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
of any trust or fiduciary   obligation in favor of any non-Citizens of the United States and free from   any contract or understanding through which it is arranged that such voting   power may be exercised directly or indirectly on behalf of non-Citizens of   the United States, and
  
	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(iv)
  	
  
of   which there are no other means by which direct or indirect control is   conferred upon or permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United   States; or
  
	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 
(d)
 	
    
  If the undersigned is an association:

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is organized under the laws of the United States or of a State,
  
	 	 	
   
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(ii)
  	
  
of   which 100% of the members are Citizens of the United States, as defined under   the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United   States,”
  
	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(iii)
  	
  
whose   chief executive officer (by whatever title), chairman of the board of   directors (or equivalent committee or body) and all Persons authorized to act   in the absence or disability of such Persons or otherwise dispose of or   control any vessel are citizens of the United States,
  
	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(iv)
  	
  
of   which not less than 75% of the interest and voting power of such association   is owned by and vested in Citizens of the United States, free and clear of   any trust or fiduciary obligation in favor of any non-Citizens of the United   States, and free from any contract or understanding through which it is   arranged that such voting power may be exercised directly or indirectly on   behalf of non-Citizens of the United States,
  
	 	 	
   
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(v) 
  	
  
of   which not more than a minority of the number of directors (or equivalent   Persons) necessary to constitute a quorum are non-Citizens of the United   States, and
  
	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
(vi)
  	
  
of   which there are no other means by which direct or indirect control is   conferred upon or permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United   States; or
  
	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 
(e)
  	
   
  If the undersigned is a limited liability   company:

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
    
              (i)          that   is organized under the laws of the United States or of a State,

	 	 	
   
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	

  
              (ii)          of   which 75% of the members are Citizens of the United States,

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
   
              (iii)          of   which not less than 75% of the membership interest is beneficially owned by,   and vested in Persons who are Citizens of the United States, as defined under   the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United   States,”

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	

  
              (iv)          whose   chief executive officer (by whatever title), chairman of the board of   directors (or equivalent committee or body) and all Persons authorized to act   in the absence or disability of such Persons or otherwise dispose of or   control any vessel are citizens of the United States,

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
              (v)          of   which not less than 75% of the voting power of such company entitled to vote   is vested in Citizens of the United States, free and clear of any trust or   fiduciary obligation, in favor of or on behalf of any non-Citizens of the   United States, and free from any contract or understanding through which it   is arranged that such voting power may be exercised directly or indirectly on   behalf of non-Citizens of the United States,

	 	 	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	 	 	
  
              (vi)          of   which the managing member or manager (or equivalent Person), if such   company’s management is delegated to a single manager or managing member   pursuant to its 

Exhibit H-3

	
  
 
  	
  
organizational agreement,   is a citizen of the United States, or, if such company’s management is   conferred by its organizational agreement on several managers, a management   committee or board of directors (or equivalent governing body), each manager   having general management authority is a citizen of the United States and not   more than a minority of the number of management committee members or   directors (or equivalent Persons) necessary to constitute a quorum of such   governing body are non-Citizens of the United States,
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (vii)          of   which there are no other means by which direct or indirect control is   conferred upon or permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United   States, and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (viii)          of   which non-Citizens of the United States do not have authority within a   management group, whether through veto power, combined voting, or otherwise,   to exercise control over the limited liability company; or
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(f)          If the undersigned is a joint venture (if   not an association or a partnership):
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (i)          that   is organized under the laws of the United States or of a State,
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (ii)          of   which 100% of the members are, or 100% of the equity is beneficially owned by   and vested in, Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant   clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,” free and   clear of any trust or fiduciary obligation in favor of any non-Citizens of   the United States, and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (iii)         of   which there are no other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred   upon or permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States; or
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(g)          If   the undersigned is a trust:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (i)          that   is domiciled in and existing under the laws of the United States or a State,
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (ii)          all   of the trustees of which are Citizens of the United States, as defined under   the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,”
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (iii)          of   which not less than 75% of the equity interest is owned by Citizens of the   United States, as defined under the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this   definition of “Citizen of the United States,”
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
            (iv)          of   which each beneficiary with an enforceable interest in the trust is a Citizen   of the United States, as defined under the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this   definition of “Citizen of the United States,” and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
            (v)          of   which there are no other means by which direct or indirect control is   conferred upon or permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United   States.
  

Exhibit H-4

Certification B-1

Complete Either A or B:

	
  
A.
  	
  
Individual Interestholder
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
1.
  	
  
I am not a non-resident   alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
2.
  	
  
My U.S. taxpayer   identification number (Social Security Number) is ____________.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
3.
  	
  
My home address   is________________________________________.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
B.
  	
  
Partnership, Corporation   or Other Interestholder
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
1.
  	
  
________________is not a   foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust (Name of   Interestholder) or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and   Treasury Regulations).
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
2.
  	
  
The interestholder’s U.S.   employer identification number is ______________.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
3.
  	
  
The interestholder’s   office address and place of incorporation (if applicable) is _____________.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
          The   interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days of the   date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.
  
	
  
 
  
	
  
          The   interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the   Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement   contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.
  
	
  
 
  
	
  
          Under   penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and   to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete and,   if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document   on behalf of:
  

 

	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
 
  	
  
Name of Purchaser
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
/s/             

	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
 
  	
  
Signature and Date
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
   
  	
  
Title (if applicable)
  

          Note:  If the Purchaser is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function.  If the Purchaser is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification as to any person for whom the Purchaser will hold the Units shall be made to the best of the Purchaser’s knowledge.

Exhibit H-5

Certification B-2

Complete Either A or B or C:

	
  
(a)
  	
  
Individual Interestholder:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
I certify   that I qualify as a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the   Application for Admission to which this Certification is attached) because I   am an individual:
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
who is a citizen of the   United States, by birth, naturalization, as a derivative citizen or as otherwise   authorized by law, and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
who is (x) free and clear   of any trust or fiduciary obligation in favor of, or control, directly or   indirectly, by, non-Citizens of the United States and (y) not employed by or   financially dependent on a non-Citizen of the United States which is   affiliated or associated in any manner with the Partnership or any partner   thereof.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
(b)
  	
  
Corporation:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
________________   is a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Application for  Admission to which this Certification is   attached) because it is a corporation:
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is organized or   incorporated under the laws of the United States, or of a state of the United   States or a political subdivision thereof, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin   Islands, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana   Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States (each a   “State”),
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
of which title to not less   than 75% of its stock interest is beneficially owned by and vested in Persons   who are Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant clause   (a)–(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,” free and clear   of any trust or fiduciary obligation of any non-Citizens of the United   States,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iii)
  	
  
of which not less than 75%   of the voting power of the stock of such corporation entitled to vote is   beneficially owned by and vested in Citizens of the United States, as defined   under the relevant clause (a)–(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the   United States,” free from any contract or understanding through which it is   arranged that such voting power may be exercised directly or indirectly on   behalf of non-Citizens of the United States,
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iv)
  	
  
of which there are no   other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred upon or   permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(v)
  	
  
whose chief executive   officer (by whatever title), chairman of the board of directors and all   officers authorized to act in the absence or disability of such Persons or   otherwise dispose of or control any vessel are Citizens of the United States,   and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(vi)
  	
  
of which not more than a   minority of the number of directors (or equivalent Persons) necessary to   constitute a quorum are non-Citizens of the United States.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
(c)
  	
  
Partnership:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
________________   is a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Application for  Admission to which this Certification is   attached) because it is a partnership:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is organized under   the laws of the United States or of a State,
  

Exhibit H-6

	
   
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
all general partners of   which are Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant clause   (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,”
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iii)
  	
  
of which not less than a 75%   equity interest and voting power is beneficially owned by and vested in,   Persons who are Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant   clause (a)–(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,” free and   clear of any trust or fiduciary obligation in favor of any non-Citizens of   the United States and free from any contract or understanding through which   it is arranged that such voting power may be exercised directly or indirectly   on behalf of non-Citizens of the United States, and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iv)
  	
  
of which there are no   other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred upon or   permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
(d)
  	
  
Association:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
________________   is a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Application for  Admission to which this Certification is   attached) because it is an association:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is organized under   the laws of the United States or of a State,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
of which 100% of the   members are Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant   clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,”
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iii)
  	
  
whose chief executive   officer (by whatever title), chairman of the board of directors (or   equivalent committee or body) and all Persons authorized to act in the   absence or disability of such Persons or otherwise dispose of or control any   vessel are citizens of the United States,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iv)
  	
  
of which not less than 75%   of the interest and voting power of such association is owned by and vested   in Citizens of the United States, free and clear of any trust or fiduciary   obligation in favor of any non-Citizens of the United States, and free from   any contract or understanding through which it is arranged that such voting   power may be exercised directly or indirectly on behalf of non-Citizens of   the United States,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(v)
  	
  
of which not more than a   minority of the number of directors (or equivalent Persons) necessary to   constitute a quorum are non-Citizens of the United States, and
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(vi)
  	
  
of which there are no   other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred upon or   permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
(e)
  	
  
Limited Liability Company:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
________________   is a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Application for  Admission to which this Certification is   attached) because it is a limited liability company:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is organized under   the laws of the United States or of a State,
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
of which 75% of the   members are Citizens of the United States,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iii)
  	
  
of which not less than 75%   of the membership interest is beneficially owned by, and vested in Persons   who are Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant clause   (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,”
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iv)
  	
  
whose chief executive   officer (by whatever title), chairman of the board of directors (or   equivalent committee or body) and all Persons authorized to act in the   absence or disability of such Persons or otherwise dispose of or control any   vessel are citizens of the United States,
  

Exhibit H-7

	
  
 
  	
  
(v)
  	
  
of which not less than 75%   of the voting power of such company entitled to vote is vested in Citizens of   the United States, free and clear of any trust or fiduciary obligation, in favor   of or on behalf of any non-Citizens of the United States, and free from any   contract or understanding through which it is arranged that such voting power   may be exercised directly or indirectly on behalf of non-Citizens of the   United States,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(vi)
  	
  
of which the managing   member or manager (or equivalent Person), if such company’s management is   delegated to a single manager or managing member pursuant to its   organizational agreement, is a citizen of the United States, or, if such   company’s management is conferred by its organizational agreement on several   managers, a management committee or board of directors (or equivalent   governing body), each manager having general management authority is a   citizen of the United States and not more than a minority of the number of   management committee members or directors (or equivalent Persons) necessary   to constitute a quorum of such governing body are non-Citizens of the United   States,
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(vii)
  	
  
of which there are no   other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred upon or   permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States, and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(viii)
  	
  
of which non-Citizens of   the United States do not have authority within a management group, whether   through veto power, combined voting, or otherwise, to exercise control over   the limited liability company.
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
(f)
  	
  
Joint Venture (if not an   association or a partnership):
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
________________   is a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Application for  Admission to which this Certification is   attached) because it is a joint venture:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is organized under   the laws of the United States or of a State,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
of which 100% of the   members are, or 100% of the equity is beneficially owned by and vested in,   Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant clause (a)-(g)   of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,” free and clear of any   trust or fiduciary obligation in favor of any non-Citizens of the United   States, and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iii)
  	
  
of which there are no   other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred upon or   permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States.
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
(g)
  	
  
Trust:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
________________   is a Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Application for  Admission to which this Certification is   attached) because it is a trust:
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(i)
  	
  
that is domiciled in and   existing under the laws of the United States or a State,
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(ii)
  	
  
all of the trustees of   which are Citizens of the United States, as defined under the relevant clause   (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the United States,”
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iii)
  	
  
of which not less than 75%   of the equity interest is owned by Citizens of the United States, as defined   under the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen of the   United States,”
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(iv)
  	
  
of which each beneficiary   with an enforceable interest in the trust is a Citizen of the United States,   as defined under the relevant clause (a)-(g) of this definition of “Citizen   of the United States,” and
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
(v)
  	
  
of which there are no   other means by which direct or indirect control is conferred upon or   permitted to be exercised by non-Citizens of the United States.
  

Exhibit H-8

          Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certification and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to sign this document on behalf of:

	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
 
  	
  
Name of Purchaser
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  
/s/
  
	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
 
  	
  
Signature and Date
  
	
  
 
  	
  
 
  
	
   
  	
  
 
  
	
  
 
  	
  

  
	
  
 
  	
  
Title (if applicable)
  

Note:    If the Purchaser is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is holding for the account of any other person, this application should be completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar function. If the Purchaser is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or agent of any of the foregoing, the above certification shall be made both as to (a) such broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing corporation, other nominee owner or agent and (b) any person for whom the Purchaser will hold the Units based on a similar certification from such
beneficial owner.

Exhibit H-9Exhibit 10.4

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

          THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 7, 2006, by and among U.S. Shipping Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“U.S. Shipping”), and the Purchasers listed on the signature pages to this Agreement (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

          WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the Closing of the issuance and sale of the Purchased Units pursuant to the Common Unit and Class B Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2006, by and among U.S. Shipping and the Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”); 

          WHEREAS, U.S. Shipping has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, it is a condition to the obligations of each Purchaser and U.S. Shipping  under the Purchase Agreement that this Agreement be executed and delivered.

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS

          Section 1.01     Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Purchase Agreement.  The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

          “Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph.

          “Effectiveness Period” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

          “Holder” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.

          “Included Registrable Securities” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02 of this Agreement.

          “Liquidated Damages” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement.

          “Liquidated Damages Multiplier” means (i) the product of $18.34 times the number of Common Units purchased by such Purchaser plus (ii) the product of $17.12 times the number of Class B Units purchased by such Purchaser.

          “Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a) of this Agreement.

          “Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book-running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.

          “NYSE” means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

          “Opt Out Notice” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02 of this Agreement.

          “Purchase Agreement” has the meaning specified therefor in the Recitals of this Agreement.

          “Purchaser” and “Purchasers” have the meanings specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

          “Registrable Securities” means: (i) the Purchased Common Units and (ii) the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Purchased Class B Units, (iii) any Common Units issued as Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 2.01 of this Agreement, if any, and (iv) any Common Units issuable upon conversion of Class B Units issued as Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 2.01, if any, all of which Registrable Securities are subject to the rights provided herein until such rights terminate pursuant to the provisions hereof.

          “Registration Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(b) of this Agreement.

          “Selling Expenses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(b) of this Agreement.

          “Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.

          “Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the Registrable Securities from time to time, including as permitted by Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act).

          “Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.

          Section 1.02     Registrable Securities.  Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security when (a) a registration statement covering such Registrable Security has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or 

disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act); (c) such Registrable Security can be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act), (d) such Registrable Security is held by U.S. Shipping or one of its subsidiaries; or (e) such Registrable Security has been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities.

ARTICLE II
 REGISTRATION RIGHTS

          Section 2.01     Shelf Registration.

          (a)          Deadline To Go Effective.  As soon as practicable following the Closing, but in any event within 60 days of the Closing, U.S. Shipping shall prepare and file a Shelf Registration Statement under the Act with respect to all of the Registrable Securities.  U.S. Shipping shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become effective no later than 120 days after the date of the Closing.    U.S. Shipping will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01 to be continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earliest of (i) when all such Registrable Securities are sold by the Purchasers, (ii) two years from the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Purchaser and (iii) when all of
the Registrable Securities become eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) (or any successor provision then in force under the Securities Act) (the “Effectiveness Period”).  The Shelf Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

          (b)          Failure To Go Effective.  If the Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2.01 is not declared effective within 150 days after Closing, then each Purchaser shall be entitled to a payment (with respect to the Purchased Units of each such Purchaser), as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, of 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period for the first 60 days following the 150th day, increasing by an additional 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period for each subsequent 60 days, up to a maximum of 1.00% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period (the “Liquidated Damages”); provided, however, the aggregate amount of Liquidated Damages payable by U.S. Shipping under this Agreement to each Purchaser shall not exceed 10.0% of the Liquidated Da

mages
Multiplier with respect to such Purchaser.  The Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be payable within ten Business Days after the end of each such 30-day period.  Any Liquidated Damages shall be paid to each Purchaser in immediately available funds; provided, however, if U.S. Shipping certifies that it is unable to pay Liquidated Damages in cash because such payment would result in a breach under a credit facility or other debt instrument filed as exhibits to the U.S. Shipping SEC Documents, then U.S. Shipping may pay the Liquidated Damages in kind in the form of the issuance of additional (A) Common Units and/or (B) Class B Units.  Class B Units may only be issued as Liquidated Damages if and to the extent required by the NYSE or similar regulation.  If Class B Units are issued as Liquidated

Damages as a result of a requirement by the NYSE or similar regulation, then Common Units will first be issued to each Purchaser on a pro rata basis based on the number of Purchased Common Units purchased by such Purchaser until the maximum aggregate number of Common Units permitted by the NYSE or similar regulation have been issued, and afterwards, Class B Units shall then be issued to each such Purchaser as payment of the balance of any such Liquidated Damages owed to such Purchaser. Upon any issuance of Common Units and/or Class B Units as Liquidated Damages, U.S. Shipping shall promptly prepare and file an amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement prior to its effectiveness adding such Common Units and/or Class B Units to such Shelf Registration Statement as additional Registrable Securities. The determination of the number of Common Units and/or Class B Units to be issued as Liquidated Damages shall be equal to the amount of Liquidated Damages divided by,
in the case of Common Units, the average closing price of U.S. Shipping’s Common Units on the NYSE for the ten trading days immediately preceding the date on which the Liquidated Damages payment is due, less a discount of 20%.  The payment of the Liquidated Damages to a Purchaser shall cease at such time as the Purchased Units of such Purchaser become eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

          (c)          Waiver of Liquidated Damages.  If U.S. Shipping is unable to cause a Shelf Registration Statement to go effective within the 150 days as a result of an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction, then U.S. Shipping may request a waiver of the Liquidated Damages, which may be granted or withheld by the consent of the Holders of a majority of the Purchased Units in their discretion.  A Purchaser’s rights (and any transferee’s rights pursuant to Section 2.11) under this Section 2.01 shall terminate when such Registrable Securities become eligible for resale under Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act.

          (d)          Delay Rights.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, U.S. Shipping may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Shelf Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement) if (i) U.S. Shipping is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other transaction and U.S. Shipping determines in good faith that U.S. Shipping’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Shelf Registration Statement or (ii) U.S. Shipping has experienced
some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of U.S. Shipping, would materially adversely affect U.S. Shipping; provided, however, if the Purchasers are suspended for a period that exceeds an aggregate of thirty (30) days in any 90-day period or 90 days in any 365-day period, in each case, exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Purchaser in connection with any Underwritten Offering, the Purchasers will be entitled to receive Liquidated Damages from U.S. Shipping as provided in Section 2.01(e) of this Agreement.  Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, U.S. Shipping shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Shelf Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as
contemplated in this Agreement. 

          (e)          Additional Rights to Liquidated Damages. If (i) the Holders shall be prohibited from selling their Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement as a result of a suspension pursuant to Section 2.01(d) of this Agreement in excess of the periods permitted therein or (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared effective but, during the Effectiveness Period, shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within 60 Business Days by a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, a supplement to the prospectus or a report filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or l5(d) of the Exchange Act, then, until the suspension is lifted or a post-effective amendment, supplement or report is filed with t

he
Commission, but not including any day on which a suspension is lifted or such amendment, supplement or report is filed and declared effective, if applicable, U.S. Shipping shall owe the Holders an amount equal to the Liquidated Damages, following (x) the date on which the suspension period exceeded the permitted period or (y) the sixty-first Business Day after the Shelf Registration Statement ceased to be effective or failed to be useable for its intended purposes, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. For purposes of this Section 2.01(e), a suspension shall be deemed lifted on the date that notice that the suspension has been lifted is delivered to the Holders pursuant to Section 3.01 of this Agreement.

          Section 2.02     Piggyback Rights.  If at any time U.S. Shipping proposes to file (i) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, including the Shelf Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01, or (ii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in either case, for the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering for its own account and/or another Person, then as soon as practicable but not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the filing of (x) any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, (y) the prospectus supplement relating to such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (if no preliminary prospectus supplement is used) or (z) such registration statement,
as the case may be, then, U.S. Shipping shall give notice of such proposed Underwritten Offering to the Holders and such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however, that if U.S. Shipping has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in the Underwritten Offering, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.04.  The notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02 to Holders shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof.   Each such Holder shall then have three Business Days
after receiving such notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering, except that such Holder shall have one Business Day after such Holder confirms receipt of the notice to request inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering in the case of a “bought deal” or “overnight transaction” where no preliminary prospectus is used.  If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering.  If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, U.S. Shipping shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, U.S. Shipping may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (x) in the case of a 

determination not to undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such offering by giving written notice to U.S. Shipping of such withdrawal up to and including the time of pricing of such offering.  Each Holder’s rights under this Section 2.02 shall terminate when such Holder (together with any Affiliates of such Holder) holds less than five million dollars ($5,000,000) of Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per unit under the Purchase

Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder holding greater than five million dollars ($5,000,000) of Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per unit  under the Purchase Agreement, may deliver written notice (an “Opt Out Notice”) to U.S. Shipping requesting that such Holder not receive notice from U.S. Shipping of any proposed Underwritten Offering.  Following receipt of an Opt Out Notice from a Holder, U.S. Shipping shall not be required to deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings by U.S. Shipping pursuant to this Section 2.02.

          Section 2.03     Underwritten Offering.

          (a)          Underwritten Offering and Roadshow.  Any one or more Holders that collectively hold greater than $20 million of Registrable Securities, based on the purchase price per unit under the Purchase Agreement, may deliver written notice to U.S. Shipping that such Holders wish  to dispose of an aggregate of at least $20 million of Registrable Securities, based on the purchase price per unit under the Purchase Agreement, in an Underwritten Offering and reasonably expect to receive aggregate gross proceeds of greater than $20 million from the sale of such Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering. Upon receipt of such written request, U.S. Shipping shall use commercially reasonable efforts to retain underwriters and effect such sale though an Underwritten Offering and take all commercially reasonable actions as are requested
by the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including the participation by U.S. Shipping’s management in a roadshow or similar marketing effort; provided, however, that  if the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any such proposed Underwritten Offering advise U.S. Shipping that the failure of U.S. Shipping’s management to participate in such roadshow would not adversely effect the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units, because a “bought deal” or “overnight transaction” is contemplated or otherwise, then U.S. Shipping’s management shall not be required to participate in a roadshow in connection with any such Underwritten Offering.  U.S. Shipping may elect to include primary Common Units in any Underwritten Offering undertaken pursuant to this Section 2.03(a).  In addition, any Underwritten Offering undertaken pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) will be subject to the
provisions of Section 2.02 and 2.04.  U.S. Shipping shall only be  required to  undertake an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) twice  during any calendar year; provided, that if any Selling Holders participate in an Underwritten Offering during a calendar year that was not initiated pursuant to this Section 2.03(a), U.S. Shipping shall only be  required to undertake an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) once during such calendar year.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (i) U.S. Shipping shall not be required to file any documents with the Commission or consummate an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) during any period in 

which it has exercised its “delay rights” pursuant to Section 2.01(d) and (ii) U.S. Shipping shall have no obligation to any Holder that any Underwritten Offering undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be successfully consummated or that any particular sales price per Common Unit shall be obtained.

          (b)          General Procedures.  In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, U.S. Shipping shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters.  In connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in which a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and U.S. Shipping shall be obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities.  No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities
and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement.  Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, U.S. Shipping to and for the benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations.  No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with U.S. Shipping or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law.  If any Selling Holder disapproves of
the terms of an underwriting, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to U.S. Shipping and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that such withdrawal must be made up to an including the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering.  No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect U.S. Shipping’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.

          (c)          No Demand Rights.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and except as contemplated by Section 2.03(a), no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to any “demand” rights or similar rights that would require the Company to effect an Underwritten Offering solely on behalf of such Holder.

          Section 2.04     Priority of Rights.  If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering of Common Units included in an Underwritten Offering involving Included Registrable Securities advises that the total amount of Common Units that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have a material adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Common Units to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advises can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to U.S. Shipping, (ii) second, to
the Selling Holder (or pro rata among such Selling Holders, if more than one) that has exercised demand rights pursuant to Section 2.03(a) or otherwise  and (ii)  third, pro rata among the Selling Holders party to this Agreement based, for each Selling Holder, on the 

fraction derived by dividing (x) the number of Common Units proposed to be sold by such Selling Holder in such Underwritten Offering by (y) the aggregate number of Common Units proposed to be sold by all Selling Holders in such Underwritten Offering.  As of the date of execution of this Agreement, there are no other Persons with Registration Rights other than pursuant to this Agreement and Section 7.12 of the Partnership Agreement.

          Section 2.05    Sale Procedures.  In connection with its obligations under this Article II, U.S. Shipping will, as expeditiously as possible:

          (a)          prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement;

          (b)          if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering from the Shelf Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify U.S. Shipping in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, U.S. Shipping shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;    

          (c)          furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement or supplement or
amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement or other registration statement;

          (d)          if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however, that U.S. Shipping will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

          (e)          promptly notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus
supplement thereto;

          (f)          immediately notify each Selling Holder and each underwriter, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing; (ii) the issuance or threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by U.S. Shipping of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.  Following the provision of such notice, U.S. Shipping agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

          (g)          upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;

          (h)          in the case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for U.S. Shipping, dated the effective date of the applicable registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto, and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter, dated the effective date of the applicable registration statement or the date of any amendment or supplement thereto and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified U.S. Shipping’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “cold comfort” letter shall be in customary
form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s 

counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities and such other matters as such underwriters may reasonably request;

          (i)          otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

          (j)          make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and Selling Holders access to such information and U.S. Shipping personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act;  

          (k)          cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by U.S. Shipping are then listed;

          (l)          use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of U.S. Shipping to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; 

          (m)          provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement; and

          (n)          enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

          Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from U.S. Shipping of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (f) of this Section 2.05, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (f) of this Section 2.05 or until it is advised in writing by U.S. Shipping that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by U.S. Shipping, such Selling Holder will, or will request the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to deliver to U.S. Shipping (at U.S. Shipping’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the
prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

          Section 2.06     Cooperation by Holders.  U.S. Shipping shall have no obligation to include in the Shelf Registration Statement units of a Holder, or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02 units of a Selling Holder, who has failed to timely furnish such information that, in the opinion of counsel to U.S. Shipping, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

          Section 2.07     Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities.  Each Holder of Registrable Securities who is included in the Shelf Registration Statement agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of the Registrable Securities during the 30-day period following completion of an Underwritten Offering of equity securities by U.S. Shipping (except as provided in this Section 2.07); provided, however, that the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters on the officers or directors or any other unitholder of U.S. Shipping on whom a restriction is imposed.  In addition, the lock-up provisions in this Section 2.07 shall not apply with respect to a Holder that (A) owns less than five million dollars
($5,000,000) of Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per unit under the Purchase Agreement, (B) has delivered an Opt Out Notice to U.S. Shipping pursuant to Section 2.02 or (C) has submitted a notice requesting the inclusion of Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02 or Section 2.03(a) but is unable to do so as a result of the priority provisions contained in Section 2.04. 

          Section 2.08     Expenses.

          (a)           Expenses.  U.S. Shipping will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.09 hereof, U.S. Shipping shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.  

          (b)          Certain Definitions.  “Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to U.S. Shipping’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.01 or an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of such securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accounta

nts for
U.S. Shipping, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance.  “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to, and any transfer taxes associated with, the sale of the Registrable Securities.

          Section 2.09     Indemnification.

          (a)          By U.S. Shipping.  In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, U.S. Shipping will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, employees and agents, and each underwriter, pursuant to the applicable underwriting agreement with such underwriter, of Registrable Securities thereunder and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees or agents, against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including 

reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder or underwriter or controlling Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder, its directors, officers, employee and agents, each such underwriter and each such controlling Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that U.S. Shipping will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder, its directors, officers, employees and agents or any underwriter or such controlling Person in writing specifically for use in the Shelf Registration Statement or such other registration statement, or prospectus supplement, as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder or any such directors, officers, employees
agents or any underwriter or controlling Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

          (b)          By Each Selling Holder.  Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless U.S. Shipping, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls U.S. Shipping within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from U.S. Shipping to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus supplement relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.  

          (c)          Notice.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.09.  In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof.  The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying pa

rty to
such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.09 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable 

costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed
by the indemnifying party as incurred.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnified party shall settle any action brought against it with respect to which it is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnifying party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnifying party.

          (d)          Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.09 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount i

n excess
of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein.  The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses
referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss which is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

          (e)          Other Indemnification.  The provisions of this Section 2.09 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

          Section 2.10     Rule 144 Reporting.  With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable 

Securities to the public without registration, U.S. Shipping agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

          (a)          Make and keep public information regarding U.S. Shipping available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

          (b)          File with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of U.S. Shipping under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

          (c)          So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of U.S. Shipping, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

          Section 2.11     Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights.  The rights to cause U.S. Shipping to register Registrable Securities granted to the Purchasers by U.S. Shipping under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by any Purchaser to one or more transferee(s) or assignee(s) of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that (a) unless such transferee is an Affiliate of such Purchaser, each such transferee or assignee holds Registrable Securities representing at least five million dollars ($5,000,000)  of the Purchased Units, based on the purchase price per unit under the Purchase Agreement, (b) U.S. Shipping is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned, and (c) each such transferee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such Purchaser under this Agreement.

          Section 2.12     Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights.  From and after the date hereof, U.S. Shipping shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of U.S. Shipping that would allow such current or future holder to require U.S. Shipping to include securities in any registration statement filed by U.S. Shipping on a basis that is superior in any way to the piggyback rights granted to the Purchasers hereunder.

ARTICLE III
 MISCELLANEOUS

          Section 3.01     Communications.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, electronic mail, courier service or personal delivery:

          (a)          if to Purchaser, to the address set forth under that Purchaser’s signature block in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.01,

          (b)          if to a transferee of Purchaser, to such Holder at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.11 above, and 

          (c)          if to U.S. Shipping at 399 Thornall Street, 8th Floor, Edison, New Jersey 08837 (facsimile: (732) 635-1918).

          All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile or sent via Internet electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by courier service or any other means.

          Section 3.02     Successor and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.

          Section 3.03     Assignment of Rights.  All or any portion of the rights and obligations of any Purchaser under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Purchaser in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

          Section 3.04     Aggregation of Purchased Units.  All Purchased Units held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.  In addition, all Registrable Securities held or acquired by  Fiduciary/Claymore MLP Opportunity Fund and its Affiliates, on one hand, and  Energy Income and Growth  Fund  and its Affiliates, on the other hand, shall be aggregated together for purposes of determining the availability of the rights and obligations with respect to such Purchasers under Section 2.02, Section 2.03(a), Section 2.07 and Section 2.11 of this Agreement. 

          Section 3.05     Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Common Units.  The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of U.S. Shipping or any successor or assign of U.S. Shipping (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

          Section 3.06     Specific Performance.  Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief.  The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which such Person may have.

          Section 3.07     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

          Section 3.08     Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

          Section 3.09     Governing Law.  The Laws of the State of New York shall govern this Agreement without regard to principles of conflict of Laws. 

          Section 3.10     Severability of Provisions.  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

          Section 3.11     Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by U.S. Shipping set forth herein.  This Agreement and the Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

          Section 3.12     Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by U.S. Shipping and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.

          Section 3.13     No Presumption.  If any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission, or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.

[Signature pages to follow]

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