ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- Service members who lost their privately owned vehicles as a result of an English Channel storm are eligible for a special break.

Overseas Military Car Sales offices will grant special discounts for either new or used cars to 165 service members who had their cars totaled as a result of diesel oil contamination aboard M/V Faust in early November.

The incentive is offered by Overseas Military Car Sales offices, located at most Army-Air Force Exchange Services outlets.

Service members who lost cars on the Faust are eligible for:

· $750 special discount on a new Ford, General Motors, Chrysler or Honda vehicle.

· $500 special discount on a preowned Ford or General Motors vehicle.

The special discount was negotiated by American Auto Logistics, Inc., the Military Traffic Management Command's contractor responsible for the movement of approximately 75,000 privately owned vehicles overseas annually.

The special discount comes on top of the firm's promise to pay the U.S. Blue Book value on all totaled vehicles.

"We think this will be of great help in easing any possible financial hardship and inconvenience that members may be experiencing," said Bill Antonelli, vice-president, of the Monroe, N.Y., firm.

"We are very pleased to have been able to work this out."

Overseas Military Car Sales will distribute lists of individuals with totaled vehicles to their outlets, said Antonelli.

Effected individuals should visit their nearest AAFES vehicle sales facility. For additional information, call the Exchange New Car Sales facility in Germany at 06173-704256.

"We are pleased to be able to assist the military members who have been affected by this unfortunate event," said Jeff Gardner of Overseas Military Car Sales.

The vehicles were damaged by diesel fuel oil aboard the Faust during a severe English Channel storm Nov. 5. With the ship rolling as much as 35 degrees in rough seas, a large vehicle broke free from its lashings and ruptured a diesel fuel oil tank. Over 10 tons of oil leaked out and dripped down on service members' vehicles stored on several lower decks.

Efforts were made to clean the contaminated vehicles after the vessel docked in Bremerhaven, Germany, but safety concerns outweighed cleanup efforts.

The ship operator, American Roll-on Roll-Off Carrier, of Montvale, N.J., was not satisfied with the cleanup of the vehicles.

"The possible risk to the members is too great," said John M. Ridlon, general counsel for the firm. "We are concerned for the health and safety of the service members and their families."

Total loss in the incident is estimated at $3 million.

The diesel oil-damaged vehicles will be returned to the United States and will be recycled into scrap metal.

The 165 service members who had their vehicles totaled will receive settlement claims on a "favorable and expedited basis," said American Auto Logistics.

Meanwhile, the firm is compensating service members in excess of its contractual obligations. For example:

· For this specific incident, American Auto Logistics will waive its $20,000 maximum liability limit.
· Service members with rental cars may continue to use their rental cars for up to 30 days following the notification of their vehicle's total loss, or receive $1,000 in lieu of a rental car.
· In cases where liens on cars are higher than the U.S. Blue Book value, American Auto Logistics will seek a settlement with both the owner and lien holder.
· Vehicles that are antiques or restored collector's items will be paid at the appropriate market value.
· Service members will have an opportunity to recover personal items from the vehicles at the vehicle processing centers.

Service members with damaged vehicles should immediately contact:

Richard Holland-Moritz or Evelyn Dullagahan
Transcar GmbH
Langer Kornweg 16
65451 Kelsterbach, Germany
Telephone: 49-0-6107-944117/16
Facsimile: 49-0-6107-8691

(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).