Exhibit 99.1



              CHASE MANHATTAN MARINE OWNER TRUST 1997-A
                          ANNUAL OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

                          COMPLIANCE WITH AGREEMENT


         The undersigned certifies that he is an Executive Vice President of The
CIT Group/Sales Financing, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware ("CITSF"), and that as such he is duly authorized to execute and
deliver this certificate on behalf of CITSF in connection with Section 4.9(a) of
the Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1997 (the "Agreement"),
among CITSF, Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Sellers, and Chase Manhattan Marine Owner Trust 1997-A , for
which Wilmington Trust Company acts as Owner Trustee and Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, N.A. formerly Norwest Bank Minnesota, NA acts as Indenture Trustee
(all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the respective
meanings specified in the Agreement). The undersigned further certifies to the
Owner Trustee and to the Indenture Trustee that a review of the activities of
CITSF during the preceding calendar year and of its performance under the
Agreement has been made under his supervision and to the best of his knowledge,
based on such review, CITSF has fulfilled its obligations under the Agreement
during the 2003 calendar year.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have affixed hereto my signature this 30th
day of March 2004.

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


                                            /s/ William L. Schumm
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Name:  William L. Schumm
                                       Title: Executive Vice President