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: December 15, 1999

                    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 December 15, 1999, CIT as servicer, distributed monthly interest to
the holders of the notes. CIT furnished copies of the monthly reports for each
of those series 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 December 15,
                              1999 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: December 23, 1999

                                        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 December 15,
                                 1999 distribution