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American Export Lines
American Export & Isbrandtsen Lines
This page is devoted to postcards of passenger ships of American Export Lines.
An alphabetical list of ships
shown on this page is shown below.
The Table
beneath gives links to complete postcard history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table are official
postcards of the fleet
in chronological order.
The Export Steamship corporation was founded in 1919 and began operating cargo services to the Mediterranean from New York. In 1931 they placed in service four cargo-passenger liners,
Excalibur (1), Excambion (1), Exeter (1)
and
Exochorda (1)
, known as the "Four Aces". The timing of their introduction was not good, immediately preceding the depression. To remain solvent, the company went through various reorganisations, becoming American Export Lines in 1936. The "Four Aces" served as military transports during the war, and only
Exochorda
survived, to be sold to Turkish Maritime Lines in 1946.
To reactivate the Mediterranean service, the Italian liner
Vulcania
was used for six round-trips in 1946. The post-war fleet was rebuilt with the purchase of four redundant attack transports, which were converted into cargo-passenger liners, becoming the second series of "Four Aces" in 1948. In 1947, American Export Lines announced plans for three 30000ton liners for for their New York to Italy service. When the order was placed with Bethlehem Steel, the number had been reduced to two ships, the first of which was the
Independence
.
Independence
entered service on February 11th, 1951, sailing from New York to Gibraltar, Naples and Genoa. Sistership
Constitution
followed in June of the same year. A third ship, the ex-Banner Line
Atlantic
, completed the planned trio of ships in 1960, although two of the "Four Aces" were laid up in the same year. Also in 1960, the Isbrandtsen Company acquired a controlling interest in American Export Lines, and in 1962 the name was changed to the unwieldy American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines. The two remaining "Four Aces" were sold in 1965. Jet aircraft, union problems, plus competition from newer Italia Line ships made the services uneconomic, and
Independence
was withdrawn from Atlantic service in 1967, followed by the
Atlantic
and sistership
Constitution
the following year. This was the end of American Export Lines passenger services. Isbrandtsen withdrew from the company in 1978, and the name was restyled American Export Lines Inc. Later the same year, the company was acquired by Farrell Lines.
Ships on This Page:-
Atlantic
Constitution
Excalibur (2)
Excambion (2)
Exeter (2)
Exochorda (2)
Independence
La Guardia
- No Postcards Yet
Savannah
- Nuclear Ship
Vulcania
- No Postcards Yet
Associated Pages:-
American Hawaii Cruises
United States Lines
- The Year 2000 company
American Liner Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
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Table of Ship Histories
Name
Other names
Built
Constitution
Oceanic Constitution
1951
Independence
Oceanic Independence
1951
La Guardia
President Roosevelt, Atlantis, Emerald Seas
1948
American Export Lines
Excalibur (1) (1931-41)
Excambion (1) (1931-42)
Exeter (1) (1931-41)
Exochorda (1) (1931-46)
The Export Steamship corporation was founded in 1919 and began operating cargo services to the Mediterranean from New York. In 1931 they placed in service four cargo-passenger liners,
Excalibur (1), Excambion (1), Exeter (1)
and
Exochorda (1)
, known as the "Four Aces". The timing of their introduction was not good, immediately preceding the depression. To remain solvent, the company went through various reorganisations, becoming American Export Lines in 1936. The "Four Aces" served as military transports during the war, and only
Exochorda
survived, to be sold to Turkish Maritime Lines in 1946.
Exochorda
was requisitioned first in 1940, being renamed
Harry Lee
. The other three sisters were requisitioned in December 1941, following Pearl Harbour.
Excalibur
became the
Joseph Hewes,
and
Exeter
became the
Edward Rutledge
. They were torpedoed within a day of each other, off Casablanca, on the 11th and 12th of November 1942.
Excambion
was became the
John Penn
, and was sunk by Japanese torpedo bomber on 13th August 1943 of Guadalcanal.
The following scan of a postcard of
Exochorda (1)
was supplied by Paton Zimmerman, who writes:-
"Here is the scan of the American Export Lines Four Aces (1). I sailed on the Exochorda (1) from Beirut to New York in June and July 1938. The voyage took three weeks and four days. Ports of call were Haifa, Alexandria, Piraeus, Naples, Leghorn, Genoa, Marseilles, Gibraltar, Boston, and New York. No passengers were permitted ashore in Gibraltar. U.S. Passports did not allow it owing to the Spanish Civil War at the time. I was born in Beirut in 1925 of American Parents and attended the American Community School held there. Most American and English families left Beirut before World War II broke out in Europe. My father, being the proprietor of Syria Auto and Electric Co. in Beirut, did much business with the American Export Line and knew most of the captains well. As a child, I remember him taking me on board their ships in the harbor at Beirut where we were invariably entertained by the captains in their quarters on the bridge. The ships were quite luxurious for their time.
You probably know that the Exochorda (1) was converted to a U.S. Navy Transport Ship in 1940 and renamed the U.S.S. Harry Lee. She served with distinction, (receiving seven battle stars) in both Mediterranean and Pacific Theaters until May of 1946 when she was decommissioned. Much information about the USS Harry Lee is available on the internet including pictures in her wartime role. The Excambion (1) was also converted to a U.S. Navy Transport and renamed the U.S.S. John Penn".
Postcard of
Exochorda (1).
Scan supplied by Paton Zimmerman.
Vulcania (1946)
The Italia Liner
Vulcania
was chartered for six trips from New York to Italy in 1946.
I do not have any postcards issued by American Export during this charter, but postcards of
Vulcania
in Italian service are shown below.
Excalibur (2) (1948-65)
Excambion (2) (1948-65)
Exeter (2) (1948-65)
Exochorda (2) (1948-67)
These four sisterships were built to replace four 1931 ships of the same name which were passed to the US Navy as transports in 1941. Both classes were known as the "Four Aces". The post war ships were also all built as US Navy attack transports, and all were converted and delivered to American Export Lines in 1948. They operated between New York and the Mediterranean. They all carried 125 passengers, and departed from Hoboken, New Jersey to Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, Beirut, Alexandria, Piraeus, Naples, Marseille, Genoa, Livorno and Barcelona according to Milton H.Watson's book
US Passenger Liners
, although this route as described seems be running in circles around the Mediterranean.
Exochorda
and
Excambion
were laid up in 1960, being sold in 1967 and 1965 respectively. The remaining two ships were sold to C.Y.Tung's Oriental Overseas Line in 1965.
Official American Export Lines postcard of the "Four Aces", showing original hull paint scheme.
The card was posted in 1963 from Cadiz, and the writer was then travelling to Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, Alexandria, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and Greece.
Click to open larger image in new window
A later official American Export Lines postcard of the "Four Aces", showing revised hull paint scheme with white carried down a deck.
This was applied a few months after the ships were commissioned.
Click to open larger image in new window
Postcard of
Exoambion (2)
at Naples (with
Queen Frederica
leaving).
Click to open larger image in new window
Excalibur
and
Exeter
were sold to Orient Overseas Line in 1965, and renamed
Oriental Jade
and
Oriental Pearl
, for a trans-Pacific service.
This is an official Orient Overseas postcard.
La Guardia (1949-51)
La Guardia
was chartered by American Export Lines whilst they were awaiting the completion of
Independence
and
Constitution
. She was very expensive to operate, and the charter was ended once the new ships arrived. I do not have any postcards in American Export Lines service.
Follow this link
to see later service with American President Lines, Chandris and Eastern Cruise Lines.
Independence (1951-74)
In 1947, American Export Lines announced plans for three 30000ton liners for for their New York to Italy service. When the order was placed with Bethlehem Steel, the number had been reduced to two ships, the first of which was the
Independence
.
Independence
entered service on February 11th, 1951, sailing from New York to Gibraltar, Naples and Genoa. At the time of delivery, she was the fastest American-built liner, achieving over 26 knots. additional calls were added to the itinerary (Algeciras, Cannes etc) and the voyages were increasingly advertised as 21-day cruises during the 1960s. In 1959, both ships received major refits, including the the move of their bridges further forward and upwards.
In 1960, the Isbrandtsen Company acquired a controlling interest in American Export Lines, and in 1962 the name was changed to the unwieldy American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines. Jet aircraft, union problems, plus competition from newer Italia Line ships made the services uneconomic, and
Independence
was withdrawn from Atlantic service in 1967, followed by sistership
Constitution
the following year. In 1968,
Independence
received a garish psychedelic livery, and ran cruises for travel agents called Fugazi to the West Indies and Mediterranean, but these were not a success.
Independence
was laid up until 1974, when she was sold to the C.Y.Tung group and renamed
Oceanic Independence
. She was briefly used for cruising, but then laid up in Hong Kong as
Sea Luck I
from 1976.
American Hawaii Cruises
were formed in 1980 by C.Y.Tung, who wished to enter the American cruise scene. The service started using
Sea Luck I
, again renamed
Oceanic Independence
, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. An American subsidiary had been created, allowing the ship to be US-flagged. The service was a success, and the sistership
Constitution
joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. During the winter of 1983,
Oceanic Independence
also received internal refurbishment, returning to service under original name
Independence
. In 1987, the cruise line was bought from the C.Y.Tung group by Peter C.R.Huang for $20million.
American Hawaii Cruises
filed for bankruptcy in 2001 following poor trading in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Complete history of Independence
Official American Export Lines letter card, issued to cover both sisters, posted from Gibraltar during a 20 day trip from New York to Italy.
Official American Export Lines postcard of
Independence
.
Continental-sized variation on the above postcard of
Independence
.
Official American Export Lines postcard of
Independence
, with card back.
Official American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines postcard of
Independence
.
Rock Photographic postcard of
Independence
at Gibraltar.
Constitution
(American Export Lines: 1951-62)
(American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines: 1962-74)
Constitution
, the sistership to
Independence
, entered service on June 6th 1951, sailing on the same route from New York to Italy. In 1959, both ships received major refits, including the the move of their bridges further forward and upwards. In 1960, the Isbrandtsen Company acquired a controlling interest in American Export Lines, and in 1962 the name was changed to the unwieldy American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines. Jet aircraft, union problems, plus competition from newer Italia Line ships made the services uneconomic, and
Independence
was withdrawn from Atlantic service in 1967, followed by
Constitution
the following year.
Constitution
was laid up until 1974, when she was sold to the C.Y.Tung group and renamed
Oceanic Constitution
. She was laid up in Hong Kong until
American Hawaii Cruises
were formed in 1980. This service started using
Oceanic Independence
, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. The service was a success, and the
Constitution
joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. In 1987, the cruise line was bought from the C.Y.Tung group by Peter C.R.Huang for $20million.
Constitution
was laid up in 1995 when it was considered too expensive to bring her up to SOLAS standards. She was sold for scrap in 1997, and subsequently lost in the Pacific whilst under tow to the Far East.
Complete history of Constitution
Official American Export Lines letter card, issued to cover both sisters, posted from Gibraltar during a 20 day trip from New York to Italy.
Official American Export Lines postcard of
Constitution
.
Official American Export Lines postcard of
Constitution
in white.
Official American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines postcard of
Constitution
.
Official American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines letter card of
Constitution
.
Scan: Chris Culp.
Atlantic (1960-71)
Atlantic
was built in 1953 as the cargo ship
Badger Mariner
. She was bought by American Banner Lines and refitted as a passenger ship, entering service as the
Atlantic
between New York and Amsterdam in 1958. She was bought by American Export Lines in 1960, used on New York-Mediterranean services, until laid up in 1968. In 1971 she was sold to C.Y.Tung's Orient Overseas Line, and renamed
Universe Campus
(shortened to
Universe
in 1976). She was scrapped in 1996, after her boilers failed, having only recently received a major internal refurbishment.
American Banner Lines official postcard of
Atlantic.
American Export Lines official postcard of
Atlantic.