American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines, New York, was the leading US-flag shipping company between the U.S. east coast and the Mediterranean from 1919 to 1977, offering both cargo ship and passenger ship services, until it declared bankruptcy and was acquired by Farrell Lines of New York.
Export Steamship Corporation was organized in 1919 and began operating cargo services to the Mediterranean from New York. The word American was added in the 1920s to emphasize its ties to the U.S. In 1931, they placed in service four cargo-passenger liners, Excalibur, Excambion, Exeter and Exochorda, known as the "Four Aces". The timing of their new service was unfortunately at the beginning of the Depression. The company went through various reorganizations and became the American Export Lines in 1936. During World War II American Export Lines operated transports for the U.S. War Shipping Administration.[1] In 1964, it merged with Isbrandtsen Co. to become the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines.
Isbrandtsen Steamship Company
In 1917, Hans Isbrandtsen formed a shipping company name Hans Isbrandtsen Inc. in Delaware and the Pan American Terminal & Dock Corporation in New York City. The shipping company underwent changes when Hans Isbrandtsen and his cousin A. P. Møller, the shipping magnate who formed the great Maersk Line, began a joint venture in 1919 forming the Isbrandtsen-Moller Company (ISMOLCO) in New York. ISMOLCO grew rapidly when in 1928, a long-term agreement was reached with Ford Motor Corporation, shipping auto parts and general cargo for Japan, China and the Philippines via the Panama Canal. Isbrandtsen founded the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company in 1939 to operate ships in areas where ISMOLCO was not involved. In 1940, this joint venture dramatically transformed due to "Permanent Special Instructions One" issued by Møller, upon which A. P. Møller's son Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller was made a partner. In 1941, the joint venture ended. Møller and his son went on to found the Interseas Shipping Co., Inc., the predecessor to the Moller Steamship Company, an agent for the Mærsk Line in the United States[2] While Interseas Shipping Co., Inc., operated mainly in the Atlantic, Isbrandtsen Steamship Company traded mainly in the Far East. Hans's son Jakob took over the company in 1953 upon Hans's passing and bought American Export Lines in 1960. The purchase was approved by the United States Maritime Administration in 1962. Jakob Isbrandtsen merged Isbrandtsen Co. with American Export Lines in 1964 to form American Export & Isbrandtsen Lines, which a year later changed its name to American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines.
American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines
Jakob Isbrandtsen formed the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines in 1964 by merging his two shipping companies. Also in 1964, Isbrandtsen, who became a majority stake holder in Ward Industries in 1960, restructured it and in 1967 formed American Export Industries, Inc., a holding company to manage American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines and all support for his fleet operations, including container services, port operations and fleet logistics. In 1971, American Export Industries spun off its holdings and returned to being the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines. This merger ended in 1973.
American Export Lines (II)
American Export Lines (AEL), re-emerged after the dissolution of the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines in 1973. AEL sold their Staten Island Marine Terminal to the City of New York in 1974. After heavy losses and unable to meet crippling debt payments, AEL went into bankruptcy in July 1977, with Farrell Lines buying its port operations in New York City and its remaining ships a year later, including two container ships on order or already under construction at Bath Iron Works, the Argonaut and Resolute, which were delivered directly to Farrell. Farrell Lines was acquired by Royal P&O Nedlloyd in July 2000; in turn, Royal P&O Nedlloyd was acquired by A.P. Moller-Maersk Group in August 2005. The port operations formerly associated with the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines became part of the Dubai Ports World controversy in February 2006.
Passenger shipping services
Their first passenger ships were actually combination passenger-cargo ships, known as "Four Aces", Excalibur, Exeter, Excambion and Exochorda. These ships were ordered built by AEL during the time when the company's president was Henry Herbman, an old-time dockman in New York. They were built by the New York Shipbuilding Company, headed up by Clinton L. Bardo, and first launched in 1931. However, Herbman was not a good businessman and the ships had not been paid for. J. E. Slater, who was with the consulting firm Coverdale and Colpitts of New York City, was asked to look into their finances, and he quickly found that the business was not being run efficiently. Finally the Maritime Commission removed Herbman from his position and J. E. Slater was asked to run the company for a few years to stabilize it. The company's financial position improved significantly, assisted by a life insurance policy Herbman had bought himself, which was paid to the company and settled the debt problem. (This information was found in Slater's taped memoirs which were passed on to his children and grandchildren.) With the exception of the Exochorda, the ships were lost during World War II as a result of enemy fire. The Exochorda was later sold to Turkish Maritime Lines and renamed Tarsus.
Following the war, the tonnage was replaced with C-3 class troop transports with the same names. They were given luxury appointments for 125 passengers as well as sufficient cargo-carrying capacity.
The crowning achievement in American Export's passenger services were their largest and best-known liners, the twin ships SS Constitution and SS Independence. The vessels were designed in their entirety by Henry Dreyfuss and the names were chosen by a competition. O. J. "Skip" Weber, Slater's son-in-law, entered both names and won the prize. The ship was "sponsored" at its launching by Mrs. John E. (Pauline) Slater. The famous 1957 movie "An Affair to Remember" was filmed on the SS Constitution. On April 4, 1956, Grace Kelly sailed on the SS Constitution when she traveled to Monaco to wed Prince Rainier.[3]
National Cyclopedia of American Biography, vol. 41.
Dugan, James. American Viking: The Saga of Hans Isbrandtsen (New York: Harper and Row, 1963)
De la Pedraja, René. The Rise and Decline of U.S. Merchant Shipping in the Twentieth Century (New York: Twayne, 1992)
De la Pedraja Tomán, René. A Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Merchant Marine and Shipping Industry Since the Introduction of Steam (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994).
Passenger service time tables American Export Lines
Passenger service time tables for ISMOLCO
Postcards featuring American Export Lines ships
The Last Ocean Liners - American Export Lines - trade routes and ships of American Export Lines in the 1950s and 1960s
Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation
History of American Export Industries
Shipbuilding under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936
Video: A Circle Line trip around Manhattan, early 1968
American Export Lines History and Ephemera GG Archives
January 06, 2023
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American Export Lines redirects here For the present day shipping company see Blue Sky Blue Sea Inc This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message American Export Isbrandtsen Lines New York was the leading US flag shipping company between the U S east coast and the Mediterranean from 1919 to 1977 offering both cargo ship and passenger ship services until it declared bankruptcy and was acquired by Farrell Lines of New York American Export Isbrandtsen LinesHouse flagIndustryShippingFounded1919Defunct1977FateBankruptcySuccessorFarrell LinesHeadquartersNew York City United StatesParentAmerican Export IndustriesSubsidiariesAmerican Export AirlinesContainers Marine Lines Contents 1 Company history 1 1 American Export Lines I 1 2 Isbrandtsen Steamship Company 1 3 American Export Isbrandtsen Lines 1 4 American Export Lines II 2 Passenger shipping services 3 Subsidiaries 4 Ships 5 List of principal executives 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksCompany history EditAmerican Export Lines I Edit Export Steamship Corporation was organized in 1919 and began operating cargo services to the Mediterranean from New York The word American was added in the 1920s to emphasize its ties to the U S In 1931 they placed in service four cargo passenger liners Excalibur Excambion Exeter and Exochorda known as the Four Aces The timing of their new service was unfortunately at the beginning of the Depression The company went through various reorganizations and became the American Export Lines in 1936 During World War II American Export Lines operated transports for the U S War Shipping Administration 1 In 1964 it merged with Isbrandtsen Co to become the American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Isbrandtsen Steamship Company Edit In 1917 Hans Isbrandtsen formed a shipping company name Hans Isbrandtsen Inc in Delaware and the Pan American Terminal amp Dock Corporation in New York City The shipping company underwent changes when Hans Isbrandtsen and his cousin A P Moller the shipping magnate who formed the great Maersk Line began a joint venture in 1919 forming the Isbrandtsen Moller Company ISMOLCO in New York ISMOLCO grew rapidly when in 1928 a long term agreement was reached with Ford Motor Corporation shipping auto parts and general cargo for Japan China and the Philippines via the Panama Canal Isbrandtsen founded the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company in 1939 to operate ships in areas where ISMOLCO was not involved In 1940 this joint venture dramatically transformed due to Permanent Special Instructions One issued by Moller upon which A P Moller s son Maersk Mc Kinney Moller was made a partner In 1941 the joint venture ended Moller and his son went on to found the Interseas Shipping Co Inc the predecessor to the Moller Steamship Company an agent for the Maersk Line in the United States 2 While Interseas Shipping Co Inc operated mainly in the Atlantic Isbrandtsen Steamship Company traded mainly in the Far East Hans s son Jakob took over the company in 1953 upon Hans s passing and bought American Export Lines in 1960 The purchase was approved by the United States Maritime Administration in 1962 Jakob Isbrandtsen merged Isbrandtsen Co with American Export Lines in 1964 to form American Export amp Isbrandtsen Lines which a year later changed its name to American Export Isbrandtsen Lines American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Edit Jakob Isbrandtsen formed the American Export Isbrandtsen Lines in 1964 by merging his two shipping companies Also in 1964 Isbrandtsen who became a majority stake holder in Ward Industries in 1960 restructured it and in 1967 formed American Export Industries Inc a holding company to manage American Export Isbrandtsen Lines and all support for his fleet operations including container services port operations and fleet logistics In 1971 American Export Industries spun off its holdings and returned to being the American Export Isbrandtsen Lines This merger ended in 1973 American Export Lines II Edit American Export Lines AEL re emerged after the dissolution of the American Export Isbrandtsen Lines in 1973 AEL sold their Staten Island Marine Terminal to the City of New York in 1974 After heavy losses and unable to meet crippling debt payments AEL went into bankruptcy in July 1977 with Farrell Lines buying its port operations in New York City and its remaining ships a year later including two container ships on order or already under construction at Bath Iron Works the Argonaut and Resolute which were delivered directly to Farrell Farrell Lines was acquired by Royal P amp O Nedlloyd in July 2000 in turn Royal P amp O Nedlloyd was acquired by A P Moller Maersk Group in August 2005 The port operations formerly associated with the American Export Isbrandtsen Lines became part of the Dubai Ports World controversy in February 2006 Passenger shipping services EditTheir first passenger ships were actually combination passenger cargo ships known as Four Aces Excalibur Exeter Excambion and Exochorda These ships were ordered built by AEL during the time when the company s president was Henry Herbman an old time dockman in New York They were built by the New York Shipbuilding Company headed up by Clinton L Bardo and first launched in 1931 However Herbman was not a good businessman and the ships had not been paid for J E Slater who was with the consulting firm Coverdale and Colpitts of New York City was asked to look into their finances and he quickly found that the business was not being run efficiently Finally the Maritime Commission removed Herbman from his position and J E Slater was asked to run the company for a few years to stabilize it The company s financial position improved significantly assisted by a life insurance policy Herbman had bought himself which was paid to the company and settled the debt problem This information was found in Slater s taped memoirs which were passed on to his children and grandchildren With the exception of the Exochorda the ships were lost during World War II as a result of enemy fire The Exochorda was later sold to Turkish Maritime Lines and renamed Tarsus Following the war the tonnage was replaced with C 3 class troop transports with the same names They were given luxury appointments for 125 passengers as well as sufficient cargo carrying capacity The crowning achievement in American Export s passenger services were their largest and best known liners the twin ships SS Constitution and SS Independence The vessels were designed in their entirety by Henry Dreyfuss and the names were chosen by a competition O J Skip Weber Slater s son in law entered both names and won the prize The ship was sponsored at its launching by Mrs John E Pauline Slater The famous 1957 movie An Affair to Remember was filmed on the SS Constitution On April 4 1956 Grace Kelly sailed on the SS Constitution when she traveled to Monaco to wed Prince Rainier 3 Subsidiaries EditAmerican Export Airlines Colonial Tankers Corporation Container Marine Lines Isbrandtsen Container Marine LinesShips EditSS Adelphi Victory MCV 760 operated by Isbrandtsen Line VC2 S AP2 SS American Victory MCV 792 VC2 S AP2 SS Antioch Victory MCV 816 operated by Isbrandtsen Line VC2 S AP2 SS Atlantic C4 type SS Baylor Victory MCV 772 operated by Isbrandtsen Line VC2 S AP2 SS Beaver Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Horace Binney MCE 62 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Blair assigned to Export Steamship Corp renamed SS Exchange 1 SS Blue Triangle assigned to Export Steamship Corp renamed SS Exmouth 1 SS Brandon Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Brimsen Heights transferred in 1946 formerly known as SS American Banker of the United States Lines SS Adm Wm M Callaghan operated by American Export Isbrandtsen Lines SS Cape Nome SS Cape Race SS Carenco assigned to Export Steamship Corp SS Charles Carroll MCE 15 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Caspiana operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS City of Athens SS City of St Joseph assigned to Export Steamship Corp renamed SS Extavia 1 SS Clontarf assigned to Export Steamship Corp renamed SS Exermont 1 SS Coeur D Alene assigned to Export Steamship Corp renamed SS Examilia SS Coeur d Alene Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Colby Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Constitution SS Container Dispatcher container ship SS Container Forwarder container ship SS Corson assigned to Export Steamship Corp renamed SS Exiria 1 SS Defiance Delta King owned by Isbrandtsen Line Delta Queen owned by Isbrandtsen Line SS East Point Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Elmira Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Empire Glencoe SS Eugene Hale MCE 791 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Examelia SS Examiner 1 SS Examiner 2 SS Exanthia 1 SS Exanthia 2 C2 S A1 Maritime Commission design SS Exarch SS Exbrook SS Excalibur 1 photo SS Excalibur 2 SS Excambion 1 SS Excambion 2 SS Excellency 1 SS Excellency 2 SS Excellency 3 SS Exceller C2 S A1 Maritime Commission design SS Excello 1 SS Excello 2 SS Excelsior 1 SS Excelsior 2 SS Excelsior 3 SS Excelsior 4 SS Exchange 1 renamed SS Exliona 2 SS Exchange 2 SS Exchequer 1 photo SS Exchequer 2 SS Exchequer 3 SS Exchester 1 SS Exchester 2 SS Exchester 3 renamed SS Exmoor 3 SS Exchester 4 SS Exchester 5 SS Executive SS Executor 1 SS Executor 2 SS Exemplar SS Exermont 1 C3 E Maritime Commission design SS Exermont 2 SS Exeter 1 SS Exeter 2 SS Exford 1 SS Exford 2 SS Exhibitor 1 SS Exhibitor 2 SS Exilona 1 SS Exilona 2 SS Exilona 3 SS Exiria 1 renamed SS Exchester 3 SS Exiria 2 C2 S A1 Maritime Commission design SS Exminster 1 SS Exminster 2 SS Exmoor 1 SS Exmoor 2 SS Exmoor 3 SS Exmouth 1 SS Exmouth 2 SS Exochorda 1 SS Exochorda 2 SS Expeditor SS Explorer SS Export Adventurer SS Export Agent SS Export Aide SS Export Ambassador SS Export Banner SS Export Bay SS Export Builder SS Export Buyer SS Export Challenger SS Export Champion SS Export Commerce SS Export Courier SS Export Defender SS Export Democracy SS Export Diplomat CV Export Freedom IMO 7204863 container ship CV Export Leader IMO 7226689 container ship MA 257 now the US Navy s SS Gopher State T ACS 4 CV Export Patriot IMO 7306764 container ship operated by Farrell Lines until 1998 scrapped in Alang India SS Exporter 1 SS Exporter 2 C3 E Maritime Commission design SS Expositor SS Express 1 SS Express 2 SS Express 3 SS Extavia 1 renamed as SS Exmoor 2 SS Extavia 2 C2 S A1 Maritime Commission design SS Exton 1 SS Exton 2 SS Exton 3 SS Faraby SS William P Fessenden MCE 768 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Flying Arrow SS Flying Clipper SS Flying Cloud SS Flying Eagle SS Flying Endeavor SS Flying Enterprise 1 SS Flying Enterprise 2 SS Flying Fish a modified C 2 type cargo ship SS Flying Gull SS Flying Hawk SS Flying Foam SS Flying Independent SS Flying Spray SS Flying Trader SS Samuel Gorton MCE 1459 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Great Republic SS Hannis Taylor MCE 1978 operated by Isbrandtsen Steamship Co Inc SS Hog Island SS Robert F Hoke MCE 1968 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Hoke Smith MCE 1061 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Independence SS John Chandler MCE 215 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Sir John Franklin SS John L Motley MCE 986 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS John N Robins MCE 819 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Judge Bland SS Kingston Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS La Guardia 1 SS Lahaina Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Lake Festina SS Lake Fiscus SS Lake Frumet SS Lake Grampus SS Liberty Land CV Lightning IMO 6817845 container ship now the US Navy s SS Flickertail State T ACS 5 SS Luxpalile SS Marine Angel SS Marine Carp SS Marine Flasher SS Marine Jumper SS Marine Perch SS Marine Shark SS Martin Berhman SS Meredith Victory SS Meridian Victory SS Michael J Owens MCE 2958 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Millinocket torpedoed June 18 1942 SS Minot Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS New Orleans SS Niantic Victory MCV 100 operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Nobles SS Notre Dame Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Orion Hunter operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS A Mitchell Palmer MCE 2436 operated by Isbrandtsen Steamship Co Inc SS Pass Christian Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Remsen Heights SS Red Jacket SS Darel M Ritter MCE 2838 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Sangamon SS Saucon SS Saugus NS Savannah SS Sawokla SS Sea Falcon CV Sea Witch IMO 6806444 container ship SS Seton Hall Victory operated by Isbrandtsen Line SS Siboney SS Sinsinawa CV Staghound IMO 6916433 container ship now the US Navy s SS Cornhusker State T ACS 6 SS Unicoi SS Zebulon B Vance MCE 145 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Vulcania SS Charles D Walcott MCE 2327 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Ward SS Will R Wood MCE 1956 operated by American Export Lines Inc SS Winona SS Young AmericaList of principal executives EditHenry Herbermann 1920 1935 William Hugh Coverdale 1934 1949 John E Slater 1934 1956 John F Gehan 1939 1959 William J Dorman 1952 1965 Frazer A Bailey 1957 1959 Josephine Bay Paul 1959 1960 Jakob Isbrandtsen 1960 1971 John M Will 1959 1971See also EditSouth Street Seaport Museum where Jakob Isbrandtsen served as its trusteeReferences Edit S S Steel Scientist USMM Cargo Ship 1940 Occupation and Departure SS Independence amp SS Constitution National Cyclopedia of American Biography vol 41 Dugan James American Viking The Saga of Hans Isbrandtsen New York Harper and Row 1963 De la Pedraja Rene The Rise and Decline of U S Merchant Shipping in the Twentieth Century New York Twayne 1992 De la Pedraja Toman Rene A Historical Dictionary of the U S Merchant Marine and Shipping Industry Since the Introduction of Steam Westport CT Greenwood Press 1994 Hornby Ove 1988 With Constant Care A P Moller Shipowner 1876 1965 Schultz Forlag ISBN 9788756923569External links EditWikisource Isbrandtsen Moller Company v United States Syllabus Opinion of the Court Rugged Individualist Time January 16 1950 permanent dead link Sea Lawyer Time October 9 1950 Maritime Matters index of Ocean liners and cruise ships Passenger service time tables American Export Lines Passenger service time tables for ISMOLCO Postcards featuring American Export Lines ships The Last Ocean Liners American Export Lines trade routes and ships of American Export Lines in the 1950s and 1960s Josephine Bay Paul and C Michael Paul Foundation Flags of the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company Flags of the American Export Lines Flag of the American Export Isbrandtsen Lines Passenger service dinnerware Detailed history of American Export Lines History of American Export Industries Shipbuilding under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 Video A Circle Line trip around Manhattan early 1968 American Export Lines History and Ephemera GG Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Export Isbrandtsen Lines amp oldid 1106770427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
