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v . The Department of Justice reached the conclusion that J. 8. Petroleum ig Carriers, Inc., Victory Carriers, Inc., Western Tankers, Inc., and Trafalgar ° Steamship Corporation, although ostensibly citizen corporations, were in ¥ fact controlled by aliens, particularly A. 8. Onassis, and therefore were not citizens within the meaning of the shipping laws. Their acquisition and operation of American Flag vessels without the approval of the Maritime m “ _ —_ Commission was Geemed to be in Violation of the shipping jaws, thus sub- oo. . awe, te MS eben pe oe ps IN og. wg Jecting the vessele to forfeiture to the United States, The first Onassis vessel seized by the Department of Justice was the T-2 tanker Lake George, which was seized at Wilmington, Delaware, on March 24, 1953. 3 Forfeiture proceedings were brought against 17 of the vessels over ; the succeeding months, charging violation of statutes relating to the - : documentation of vessels. under United States flag and a viclation of the : Shipping Act of 1916 prohibiting the transfer of United States Tlag vessels aE to noncitizens. Forfeiture proceedings had not yet been instituted against we BQ » 4 the other six vessels because they vere not trading in United States ports, ae : - 6-