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- Constitution
- Oceanic Constitution
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- This page
is devoted to postcards and photographs of the American Export
liner Constitution, which later operated with American
Hawaii Cruises.
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- 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
to be delivered was the Independence. Constitution, the second sister,
entered service on June 6th, 1951, sailing from New York to Gibraltar,
Naples and Genoa. At the time of delivery, they were the fastest
American-built liners, achieving over 26 knots. Additional calls
were later 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.
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- 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Independence was withdrawn from Atlantic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.
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- 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. An American subsidiary had been
created, allowing the ship to be US-flagged. 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.
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- Sections on this Page:-
- Constitution - American Export Lines
- Postcards
- Constitution - American Export and
Isbrandtsen Lines - Postcards
- Constitution - American Hawaii Cruises
- Postcards
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- Associated Pages:-
- Independence - Postcard history of
sistership
- American
Export Lines
- American
Hawaii Cruises
- United
States Lines - The Year 2000 company
- Cruise
Ship Postcards
- Ocean
Liner Postcards
- Simplon
Postcards Home Page
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- Constitution
- (American
Export Lines: 1951-62)
- (American
Export and Isbrandtsen Lines: 1962-74)
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- Official
American
Export Lines
letter card, issued to cover both sisters, posted from Gibraltar
during a 20 day trip from New York to Italy.
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- Official
American
Export Lines
postcard of Constitution.
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- Official
American
Export Lines
postcard of Constitution.
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- Official American Export and Isbrandtsen
Lines postcard of Constitution.
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- Official
American Export and Isbrandtsen Lines letter card of Constitution.
- Scan:
Chris Culp.
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- Constitution
- (American
Hawaii Cruises: 1982-1997)
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- American
Hawaii Cruises were formed in 1980 by C.Y.Tung, who wished to
enter the American cruise scene. He already owned the American
Export Lines
sisters Constitution and Independence. The service started using the latter,
renamed Oceanic
Independence,
on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. The
service was a success, and the sistership 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.
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- Official
American Hawaii postcard SC17992 of Constitution.
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- Oversized
official American Hawaii postcard of Constitution.
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- Oversized
official American Hawaii postcard of Constitution.
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- Oversized
official American Hawaii postcard of Constitution.
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- Oversized
official American Hawaii postcard of Constitution.
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- American
Hawaii Cruises postcard showing both Constitution (right)
and Independence.
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- Memories
of Hawaii release A-346 showing both Constitution (left)
and Independence.
- Photographed
by Loye Guthrie.
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- Memories
of Hawaii release A-346 showing both Constitution (left)
and Independence.
- Photo:
Loye Guthrie.
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- Postcards
Hawaii serial number A-293 of Constitution.
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Photo: R.A.Young
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- Simplon
Postcards release sp2018 of Constitution, issued June
1992.
- Photographed
at Kona, Hawaii, by John Swales.
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- American Export Lines - American Hawaii Cruises - United States Lines
- Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards
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of Page
- Simplon
Postcards Home Page
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- ©1999-2005
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