Exhibit 99.1
                    CHASE MANHATTAN MARINE OWNER TRUST 1997-A
                          ANNUAL OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

                            COMPLIANCE WITH AGREEMENT

   The undersigned certifies that he is a Senior 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,
as Servicer, Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Sellers, and Wilmington Trust Company acts as Owner Trustee
(all capitalized terms used herein without definition having the respective
meanings specified in the Agreement). The undersigned further certifies 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 all its
obligations under the Agreement throughout the preceding calendar year.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have affixed hereto my signature this 1st
day of March, 2001.

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



                                           /s/ Frank Garcia
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name: Frank Garcia
                                           Title: Senior Vice President