SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                        Date of Report: January 18, 2000

                    CHASE MANHATTAN MARINE OWNER TRUST 1997-A
                             (Issuer of Securities)

                 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
                             (Sponsor of the Trust)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

  United States                         333-32737                22-2382028
- ----------------------   --------------------------------   --------------------
(State or other                 (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
jurisdiction                                                 Identification No.)
of incorporation)

                  802 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware       19801
                  -----------------------------------------       ------------
                  (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (302) 575-5033

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
                             (Sponsor of the Trust)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    New York                            333-32737                13-4994650
- ----------------------   --------------------------------   --------------------
(State or other                 (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
jurisdiction                                                 Identification No.)
of incorporation)

                  270 Park Avenue, New York, New York             10017
                  ----------------------------------------        ------------
                  (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 270-6000


Item 5. Other Events:

      Chase Manhattan Marine Owner Trust 1997-A is the issuer of 8 classes of
Asset Backed Notes. The notes are serviced in accordance with the Sale and
Servicing Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1997, as amended. The parties to the
Sale and Servicing Agreement are: Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National
Association, as a seller, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as seller, and The CIT
Group/Sales Financing, Inc., as servicer.

      On January 18, 2000, CIT as servicer, distributed monthly interest to the
holders of the notes. CIT furnished copies of the monthly reports for each class
of notes as required by the Sale and Servicing Agreement. Copies of those
monthly reports are being filed as Exhibit 20.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K.

Item 7(c). Exhibits

            Exhibits          Description
            ----------        ---------------

            20.1              Monthly Report with respect to the January 18,
                              2000 distribution


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: January 28, 2000

                                        THE CIT GROUP/SALES FINANCING, INC.,
                                        as Servicer


                                        By: /s/ Frank Garcia
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name:  Frank Garcia
                                            Title: Vice President


                                      INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                           Description
- ---------------                       -----------------
20.1                                  Monthly Report with respect to the January
                                      18, 2000 distribution