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 services and passenger ship services, until it declared bankruptcy and was acquired by Farrell Lines, New York.

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 links

Company history

AEL flag until 1962

American Export Lines (I)

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 Isbrandsen formed a shipping company name Hans Isbrandsen 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 Mærsk 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 States¹. 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, the 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, Mr. 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 (NYC), 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 Mr. Herbman had bought himself, which was paid to the company and settled the debt problem. (This information was found in Mr. 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 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, Mr. 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.

Subsidiaries

American Export Airlines

Colonial Tankers Corporation

Container Marine Lines Isbrandtsen

Container Marine Lines

Ships

SS 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 America

List of principal executives

Henry Herbermann, 1920–1935

William Hugh Coverdale, 1934–1949

John E. Slater, 1934–1956

John F. Gehan, 1939–1959

Frazer A. Bailey, 1957–1959

Josephine Bay Paul, 1959–1960

Jakob Isbrandtsen, 1960–1971

John M. Will, 1959–1971