<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>exhibita6.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT A-6
<TEXT>

<TABLE>


                                                                                                                      Exhibit A-6
                                                                                                                      (Unaudited)


                                                        Birdsall, Inc.
                                        Consolidating Statement of Retained Earnings
                                            For The Year Ended December 31, 2003
                                                        (Millions)
<CAPTION>


                                                              Seven
                                    Tropical                  Seas      Tropic     Tropical
                                    Shipping and   Birdsall   Insurance Equipment  Shipping   Other      Adjustments
                          Birdsall, Construction   Shipping,  Company,  Leasing    Internat-  Sub-           and
                          Inc.      Company Ltd.   S.A.       Inc.      Inc.      ional, Ltd. sidiaries  Eliminations  Consolidated
                          --------  -------------  ---------  --------- --------- ----------- ---------- ------------  ------------
<S>                       <C>       <C>            <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>

Balance at beginning
 of year                  $  24.3   $      129.9   $    8.4   $   4.9   $    5.8   $    4.7   $     5.7  $     (10.1)  $     173.6

Net income (loss)             9.2           16.3        4.2       3.4        3.6        4.3         3.1        (23.5)         20.6

Dividends on common stock   (17.0)          (8.2)      (1.7)     (2.5)         -       (2.5)       (5.0)        19.9         (17.0)

Rounding                     (0.2)             -          -         -       (0.1)         -           -          0.2          (0.1)
                          --------  -------------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  ---------- ------------  ------------
Balance at end of year    $  16.3   $      138.0   $   10.9   $   5.8   $    9.3   $    6.5   $     3.8  $     (13.5)  $     177.1
                          ========  =============  =========  ========  =========  =========  ========== ============  ============

<FN>

Note:  Subsidiaries combined under "Other Operating Subsidiaries" in Exhibits A-1 through A-3, together with subsidiaries combined
        under "Other Subsidiaries" in Exhibits A-4 through A-9, aggregate less than 2% of Nicor Inc. consolidated assets or
        consolidated revenue.

</FN>

</TABLE>


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>