proposed by this Convention are unnecessary in light of existing international labor laws that govern many of these issues. The company is working with industry representatives to oppose ratification of this Convention. Should this Convention become law, the company and its customers' operations may be negatively affected during the period of compliance. 

## Government Regulation 

The company is subject to various United States federal, state and local statutes and regulations governing the operation and maintenance of its vessels. The company’s U.S. flag vessels are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard, the United States Customs Service, the United States Maritime Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The company is also subject to international laws and conventions and the laws of international jurisdictions where the company and its offshore vessels operate. 

Under the citizenship provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 and the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended, the company would not be permitted to engage in the U.S. coastwise trade if more than 25% of the company's outstanding stock were owned by non-U.S. citizens. For a company engaged in the U.S. coastwise trade to be deemed a U.S. citizen: (i) the company must be organized under the laws of the United States or of a state, territory or possession thereof, (ii) each of the chief executive officer and the chairman of the board of directors of such corporation must be a U.S. citizen, (iii) no more than a minority of the number of directors of such corporation necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business can be non-U.S. citizens and (iv) at least 75% of the interest in such company must be owned by U.S. citizens. The company has a dual stock certificate system to protect against non-U.S. citizens owning more than 25% of its common stock. In addition, the company's charter provides the company with certain remedies with respect to any transfer or purported transfer of shares of the company's common stock that would result in the ownership by non-U.S. citizens of more than 24% of its common stock. Based on information supplied to the company by its transfer agent, approximately 10% of the company's outstanding common stock was owned by non-U.S. citizens as of March 31, 2010. 

The laws of the U.S. require that vessels engaged in the U.S. coastwise trade must be built in the U.S. In addition, once a U.S.-built vessel is registered under a non-U.S. flag, it cannot thereafter engage in U.S. coastwise trade. Therefore, the company's non-U.S. flag vessels must operate outside of the U.S. coastwise trade. Of the total 394 vessels owned or operated by the company at March 31, 2010, 316 vessels were registered under flags other than the United States and 78 vessels were registered under the U.S. flag. If the company is not able to secure adequate numbers of charters abroad for its non-U.S. flag vessels, even if work would otherwise have been available for such vessels in the United States, these vessels cannot operate in the U.S. coastwise trade, and the company’s financial performance could be affected. 

All of the company's offshore vessels are subject to United States and international safety and classification standards. U.S. flag towing-supply, supply vessels and crewboats are required to undergo periodic inspections twice within every five year period pursuant to U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Vessels registered under flags other than the United States are subject to similar regulations and are governed by the laws of the applicable international jurisdictions and the rules and requirements of various classification societies, such as the American Bureau of Shipping. 

The company is in compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988), and further mandated in the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 to align United States regulations with those of SOLAS and the ISPS Code. Under the ISPS Code, the company performs worldwide security assessments, risk analyses, and develops vessel and required port facility security plans to enhance safe and secure vessel and facility operations. Additionally, the company has completed the process of installing automated identification systems, long range identification tracking system and ships security alert systems on all vessels that are required to have the respective systems. 

## Environmental Compliance 

During the ordinary course of business, the company’s operations are subject to a wide variety of environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of oil and pollutants into navigable waters. Violations of these laws may result in civil and criminal penalties, fines, injunction and other sanctions. 

