CONSTITUTION e INDEPENDENCE

Os paquetes norte-americanos CONSTITUTION e INDEPENDENCE foram s mais importantes navios de passageiros da companhia American Export Lines, construídos a seguir à Segunda Guerra Mndial. Inicialmente era para ter sido construído um terceiro gémeo, o que não se concretizou e acabou por levar à compra do ATLANTIC em 1960 à American Banner Lines.

Conheci bem estes navios, que visitavam Lisboa e o Funchal com frequência e no Tejo eram agenciados pela casa Pinto Bastos. Foram retirados do serviço regula e cruzeiros em 1967 e 1968 e venddos os três ao milionário chinês C.Y. Tung, de Hong Kong. Com bandeira americana o INDEPENDENCE esteve em Lisboa pela última vez em Outubro de 1968 mas regressou em 1975 com o nome OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE, quando andou a transportar retornados de Angola de Walvis Bay para Lisboa.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

American Export Lines' CONSTITUTION and INDEPENDENCE

Lives of the Liners: Wedding in Monte Carlo (By Bill Miller): When, in early 1956, American Export Lines heard that Hollywood film queen Grace Kelly was flying to Nice for her fairytale wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, my old friend, the late Fred Sarver was dispatched to Philadelphia to meet the mother of the bride & offer her 50 free tickets onboard the CONSTITUTION, which would be specially diverted for the bride & wedding party to a stop in Monte Carlo. 

Mrs Kelly hesitated, waited, took overnight and then wanted 100 free tickets. Fred and American Export settled on 75 and so Grace Kelly sailed off to her much publicized wedding that April. The 1,000-passenger CONSTITUTION was on the cover of every newspaper & magazine in the world.

“Grace Kelly was, of course, the most publicized passenger when she sailed on the CONSTITUTION for her wedding in Monaco to Prince Rainier in April 1956,” added Herb Maletz, a onetime comptroller in the Export main office along New York City’s Lower Broadway. “The ship was especially diverted to Monte Carlo just for her, her family and the American wedding party. Of course, we carried lots of reporters on that trip as well” John Scott remembered, “I was serving aboard a US battleship that made a courtesy call to Monte Carlo in 1957, the year after their much publicized wedding. “Prince Rainier & Princess Grace were coming aboard. Just before, the officer of the watch announced over the address system: ‘All hands on deck to welcome Princess Grace & Prince Reindeer’!”

“On several occasions, we also had Ibn Saud, the King of Saudi Arabia,” added Herb Maletz. “He would usually arrive or depart in Casablanca. He was an extraordinary passenger. He gave $1,000 tips and gold Rolex watches to the staff. Hassan II, the king of Morocco, crossed to New York in 1962 with an entourage of 100 aboard the CONSTITUTION. He and his party occupied all the suites and some first class staterooms. They had lots of trunks, gifts for the staff and were transporting a pony that to be a gift for little Caroline Kennedy. The captain was presented with a token of appreciation: a sword with a case emblazoned with hundreds of diamonds, rubies and emeralds.”

The Independence and CONSTITUTION also carried great numbers of Catholic clergy, businessmen, tourists and westbound immigrants. In 1962, tourist class rates for the 9 nights to Naples started at $289, in cabin class at $334 and in first class from $421. A 44-night mid-winter Mediterranean cruise was priced from $1245.

The Atlantic liner business began to collapse, however, soon after the first crossings on commercial jets in the fall of 1958. By the early ‘60s, the airlines had over 95% of all traffic. The INDEPENDENCE and her sister lost money, then lots of money. Even a last-ditch attempt at inexpensive cruising ($98 and up for a week to the Caribbean, but minus food in the dining room) failed. The two ships were laid-up in 1968 as American Export pulled out of the passenger ship business altogether. Amidst rumors that included sales to the Chandris as well as the Lauro lines, the two ships sat idle for six years before C. Y. Tung, a Taiwanese shipping tycoon and who liked older, out-of-work passenger ships, bought them but for uncertain roles. Fuel oil prices had tripled in 1973-74 and so it was not an especially good time for big, oil-hungry, steam turbine-driven liners. For the next six or so years, the Independence and CONSTITUTION were moored in quiet backwater bays near Hong Kong. By 1980, however, Tung had foresight. Filling a void left by the old Matson Line passenger ships, the INDEPENDENCE was refitted, re-flagged as an American ship (she had changed to Liberian registry in 1974 as the Oceanic Independence) and entered 7-day, inter-island service out of Honolulu. The CONSTITUTION followed two years later.

The INDEPENDENCE & CONSTITUTION sailed almost always at Noon ... and I can just "see" one of them coming down the Hudson as they passed Hoboken at about 12:15. They had a great stance, a sense of power, ocean liner majesty about them!

This photo, from January 1997, shows the CONSTITUTION laid-up at a Portland, Oregon shipyard; months later, in November, she would "mysteriously" sink while empty, under tow & on the way to Far Eastern scrappers.

Sometimes one of the Italian liners was sailing from the same berth, Pier 84, at the foot of West 44th St, or the UNITED STATES or the AMERICA was going from adjacent Pier 86. It was usually at 12 Noon -- and what a sight, memory, those thunderous whistles, the streamers, the happy crowds & of course the Moran tugs. Three liners at the same time! It was just magic!

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright Bill Miller. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

Bill Miller photographs

Two funnelled passenger liners in NewYork photographed by my friend Bill Miller: the FRANCE sailing for Europe in 1973 and the handsome INDEPENDENCE leaving port in 1967 with the HOMERIC alongside...
Bill Miller writes / I took this photo of the Caribbean-bound Independence on a bitterly cold February afternoon in 1967. She was departing from Pier 84 at West 44th Street in Manhattan. I was using a $10 plastic box camera at that time.
My good friend and fellow Hobokenite Tony La Forgia recalled: I remember the American Export piers in Hoboken and seeing the “Four Aces” [Excalibur, Exeter, Excambion & Exochorda] and later the nuclear-powered Savannah. In winter, the Independence & Constitution were berthed for several weeks at Pier B at the foot of Third Street for wintertime dockside maintenance. With their twin funnels, they towered above the pier’s roof. The Export piers were always busy, sometimes with five or six freighters at dock as well, and smelled of olives and leather and of course grease and oil. This was part of the Hoboken waterfront. Along River Street, the piers would be jammed with loose freight and waiting trucks.

Texto / Text copyright L.M.Correia. e imagens / and images copyright Bill Miller. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE in Durban 1975

Trevor Jones has sent this magnificent photograph of the Orient Overseas cruise ship OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE cruising out of Durban in 1975.

After a short spell of cruising in South Africa, the OCEANIC INDPENDENCE was chatered by the Government of South Africa and used on three round voyages between Walvis Bay and Lisbon on September - November 1975 transporting refugees from Angola back to Europe following the independence of the former Portuguese jewel of the crown in Africa.

See more photos of this fantastic ship and her history here.

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

PONTA DELGADA na década de sessenta

Porto de Ponta Delgada em outro dia de São Navio. Uma imagem mais recente que a do LIMA e JEAN MERMOZ, situada na segunda metade dos anos sessenta muito provavelmente, vendo-se, da esquerda para a direita, o navio de turbinas a gás CORVO (II), da Mutualista Açoreana, o paquete norte americano INDEPENDENCE de 1951, e o paquete misto holandês PRINS DER NETHERLANDS, que fazia a carreira das antilhas holandesas e foi depois vendido em 1974 ao governo de Cuba, passando a servir como transporte de tropas para Angola com o nome VIETNAME HERÓICO.
Curiosamente apenas o paquete holandês já desapareceu. O CORVO opera no rio Douro com o nome MAIA e o INDEPENDENCE está a atravessar o oceano Pacífico a reboque, em viagem para a sucata...
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia collection. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

SS INDEPENDENCE in Naples

Two images taken by Michael Sutcliffe in the early sixties in Naples and in the Mediterranean. On the top photograph the INDEPENDENCE is docked at the magnificent Naples Passenger Ship Terminal. One of the Lloyd Triestino AUSTRALIA-class liners can be seen ahead of the American liner.
On the second photo the INDEPENDENCE was photographed underway at sea from a P&O - Orient Line ship.
Images copyright Michael Sutcliffe with comment byL.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

O paquete INDEPENDENCE de 1951

INDEPENDENCE (1951-2008)

Navio de passageiros a turbinas construído de aço em 1949-1951. Nº. oficial: 261147. Nº IMO: 5160180. Indicativo de chamada: KPHI. Tonelagem: 23.719 gross, 11.160 net, 7.250 deadweight (29.950 TAB, 18.475 TAL segundo regras de arqueação britânicas). Comprimento ff: 208,01m; comprimento pp: 194,39m; boca: 27,18m; pontal: 16,13m; calado máximo: 9,19m. Aparelho propulsor: 2 grupos de turbinas a vapor, 55.000 SHP, 2 hélices, 23 nós. Passageiros: 900 (295 – 1ª, 375 – cabine, 330 – turística (máximo de 1.042 passageiros). Tripulantes: 578. Custo: 28 milhões de USD. Gémeo: CONSTITUTION.

Em 1948 a American Export Lines Inc., de Nova Iorque encomendou ao estaleiro Bethlehem Steel Co., Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Mass., dois navios de passageiros do tipo P3-S2-DL2 da U.S. Maritime Commission, o primeiro dos quais foi o INDEPENDENCE (construção nº 1618). O custo do navio foi subsidiado em 40% pela USMC e em 7,5% pela U.S. Navy, devido ao facto de o projecto incluir a possibilidade de transformação para transporte de tropas (5.000 militares). A quilha foi assente a 29-03-1949 e o lançamento à água efectuado a 3-06-1950 sendo madrinha Mrs. John Slater. A 1-12-1950 o INDEPENDENCE deixou o estaleiro para iniciar as provas de mar que se prolongaram até 8-12. Nas provas de velocidade a 7-12 foi registada a velocidade máxima de 26.15 nós. Entregue ao armador em 01-1951, saiu de Boston a 21-01-1951 na viagem de entrega para Nova Iorque (22-01), porto onde foi registado, destinando-se à carreira regular N. Iorque – Mediterrâneo. De 11-02 a 4-04-1951 cruzeiro inaugural de 53 dias ao Mediterrâneo com saída de Nova Iorque. 12-04-1951: Início da primeira viagem regular N. Iorque – Gibraltar – Cannes – Nápoles – Génova. 20-02-1959: chegou a Newport News para modernização e ampliação das instalações para passageiros de 1ª classe no estaleiro Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. Mais 110 passageiros de 1ª classe, 30.209 TAB (23.754 TAB segundo as regras de arqueação dos EUA). 18-04-1959: regresso à carreira do Mediterrâneo. 1960: casco pintado de branco. 1965: primeiro cruzeiro às Caraíbas. 1967: arqueação bruta (US) reduzida para 20.251 TAB. 1968: adaptado para cruzeiros em classe única pelo estaleiro Maryland S.B. & DD Co., em Baltimore. Casco pintado em estilo “pop art”. 3-06-1968: primeiro cruzeiro fretado à agência de viagens Fugazi Travel Services, N. Iorque; cruzeiros às Caraíbas e Mediterrâneo. Último cruzeiro ao Mediterrâneo de 21-09 a 26-10-1968 (N. Iorque, Funchal, Casablanca, Ceuta, Tanger, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Palma, Alghero, Nápoles, Malta, Rodes, Beirute, Haifa, Pireu, Catania, Messina, Nápoles, Portofino, Génova, Monte Carlo, Cannes, Barcelona, Alicante, Algeciras, Lisboa (19-10), Ponta Delgada, N. Iorque). Após esta viagem foi pintado novamente com as cores tradicionais da Americam Export Lines. Em 11 e 12-1968 efectuou dois cruzeiros finais às Caraíbas após o que foi retirado do serviço e imobilizado em Jacksonville a 23-12-1968. Em 13-03-1969 foi transferido para Baltimore onde continuou imobilizado. Em 01-1974 foi vendido à Atlantic Far East Lines, Inc., (C.Y.Tung), Libéria. A 17-03-1975, nome alterado para OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE (950 passageiros classe única). A 23-03-1975 saiu de Baltimore para Durban, com escalas em Jacksonville, Aruba e Cape Town. 24-04-1975: primeiro cruzeiro a partir de Durban. 09-1975: afretado pelo Governo da África do Sul para 3 viagens Walvis Bay – Lisboa com refugiados de Angola. 19-01-1976: imobilizado em Hong Kong. 11-1976: anunciada a venda à Shannon SA, Panamá, para utilização na Arábia como navio acomodação com o nome SEA LUCK 1. Venda não concretizada.12-1979: transferido para a American Hawaii Cruise Inc., (C.Y: Tung). Reparado e modernizado em Kobe por Kawasaki Dockyard Co. Ltd. Registado em Honolulu. 21-06-1980: cruzeiro inaugural no Hawaii baseado em Honolulu (20.220 TAB, 798 passageiros, 350 tripulantes). 24-09-1981: encalhe em Nawiliwili, ilha de Kauai; cruzeiro cancelado. 7-10-1981: saiu de Honolulu para ser reparado em S. Francisco. 1982: propriedade transferida para a American Global Line, Inc., nome alterado para INDEPENDENCE. 12-82 a 05-1983: imobilizado em Honolulu. 6-08-1983: primeira viagem Honolulu – Los Angeles – San Francisco – Honolulu. 1990: 20.221 TAB. 2-07-1994: saiu de Honolulu para Newport News (19-07), para modernização no estaleiro Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. Em 8-10-1994 retomou o programa de cruzeiros regulares baseado em Honolulu. 1996: propriedade transferida para a American Global Line, Honolulu. Após os atentados de Setembro de 2001, a companhia American Classic Voyages, Inc., declarou falência pelo que o INDEPENDENCE concluiu o último cruzeiro a 20-10-2001 em Honolulu. A 30-10-2001 saiu de Honolulu para S. Francisco (8-11) onde foi imobilizado em Alameda Naval Station. Em 11-2001 propriedade transferida para a U.S. Maritime Administration. A 25-01-2002 foi rebocado de Alameda para S. Francisco (cais 50). A 5-03-2002 seguiu a reboque de S. Francisco para Suisun Bay (Reserve Fleet), mas regressou a S. Francisco no mesmo dia após o mastro principal ter embatido na ponte Carquize. 12-04-2002: imobilizado em Suisun Bay. Em 26-02-2003 comprado pela NCL – Norwegian Cruise line, Miami. Imobilizado em Mare Island Naval Base, Vallejo, em 11-04-2003. Em 26-07-2004, rebocado para S. Francisco e imobilizado no cais 70 (estaleiro BAE). Em 2005 alterou o nome para OCEANIC e a propriedade foi transferido para a companhia California Manufactoring Corporation (NCL). A 8-02-2008 saiu de S. Francisco a reboque do PACIFIC HICKORY para o Extremo Oriente para ser desmantelado.
Fotos: Postal do INDEPENDENCE publicado em 1951 pela American Export Lines; INDEPENDENCE fundeado no Funchal com o aspecto original a 16 de Fevereiro de 1951, na primeira escala do cruzeiro inaugural, procedente de Nova Iorque.
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

(OCEANIC) INDEPENDENCE of 1951

As INDEPENDENCE of 1951 she was one of the most beautiful American liners ever built. The last time I was able to photograph her in 1975 while transporting Portuguese refugees from the Angola war between Walvis Bay and Lisbon she was the Atlantic Far East Lines OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE. She later returned to US service in the Hawaii and sailed San Francisco recently under tow on a final voyage across the Pacific. To see recent superb images of her from an unknown photographer, click here...
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

THE OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE in 1975

One of the most interesting passenger liners I was able to photograph in 1975 was the Orient Overseas Lines' OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE.
She made three round voyages between Walvis Bay and Lisbon in September, October and November 1975 with refugees from Angola who had crossed the Desert of Namibia following the independence of Angola. The Government of South Africa chartered the ship but later the bill was sent to the Government of Portugal for payment...
The b&w picture shows the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE berthed at Rocha terminal with her beautiful classic counter stern very much in evidence. This magnificent liner had been built in USA for the New York - Mediterranean express service in 1951 with her sister ship CONSTITUTION. Both ships visited Portuguese ports of Lisbon, Ponta Delgada and Funchal many times during the fifties and sixties until laid up in US waters.
By 1974 both were sold to C. Y. Tung's Orient Overseas Lines of Hong Kong and after a short spell of cruises out of South Africa, the former INDEPENDENCE returned to Lisbon and then sailed for Hong Kong and a long period of lay up. However by 1980 she was refitted and positioned in Honolulu under the U.S. flag for Hawaii cruises and her original name was reinstated again in 1983. She was very successful in the Pacific and remained in service until 2001 when her owners American Hawaii Cruises went bankrupt. The former INDEPENDENCE has been laid up in San Francisco since late 2001 and now belongs to the NCL Group.
The photos show the ship in Lisbon in October 1975, an original post card in black hull livery, another company card in white livery and a nice post card depicting the two sisters in Honolulu late in their careers.
Words and b&w photo copyright L. M. Correia. Post cards from the LMC collection, except the final one that belongs to L. Guthrie - 15 February 2007