Exhibit 99.5


                                 CERTIFICATION

                       Chase Manhattan Marine Owner Trust
                          Series 1997-A (the "Trust")

I, William L. Schumm, an Executive Vice President of The CIT Group/Sales
Financing, Inc., as servicer for the above-referenced Trust, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, and all reports on Form
     8-K containing distribution or servicing reports filed in respect of
     periods included in the year covered by this annual report, of the Trust;

2.   Based on my knowledge, the information in these reports, taken as a whole,
     does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
     circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading as of
     the last day of the period covered by this annual report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the distribution or servicing information required
     to be provided to the trustee by the servicer under the sale and servicing
     agreement for inclusion in these reports is included in these reports;

4.   I am responsible for reviewing the activities performed by the servicer
     under the sale and servicing agreement and based upon my knowledge and the
     annual compliance review required under the sale and servicing agreement
     and except as disclosed in the reports, the servicer has fulfilled its
     obligations under the sale and servicing agreement; and

5.   The reports disclose all significant deficiencies relating to the
     servicer's compliance with the minimum servicing standards based upon the
     report provided by an independent public accountant, after conducting a
     review in compliance with the Uniform Single Attestation Program for
     Mortgage Bankers or similar procedure, as set forth in the sale and
     servicing agreement, that is included in these reports.





Date: March 30, 2004

/s/ William L. Schumm
- ------------------------------------------
Name:  William L. Schumm
Title: Executive Vice President
       The CIT Group/Sales Financing, Inc.