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: May 15, 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 jurisdiction  (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)

       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 jurisdiction     (Commission File Number)      (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                                      Identification No.)

           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 May 15, 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 May 15,
                                    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: May 24, 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 May 15,
                                    2000 distribution