SS Independence & SS Constitution

ssMaritime

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

The start of a new Trans-Atlantic era

SS Independence, 23,719 GRT, and the 23,754 GRT, SS Constitution where built for the American Export Lines to operate on the US Mediterranean service. She was constructed in yard 1618 of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Quincy Mass USA. She was launched on June 3, 1950 and completed January 1951. She departed on her maiden voyage, being a cruise to the Mediterranean, on February 11. On April 12 she departed her first liner voyage from New York to Genoa, later the route was changed to New York to Naples.

Launched on September 16, 1950, SS Constitution was built in yard 1619 next to her sister. She was completed in June 1951 and departed one her maiden voyage on June 25. Passenger accommodations consisted of 295 First Class, 375 Cabin Class, and 330 Tourist Class passengers.

Dimensions: Length: 208m – 682ft. Width: 27.2m – 89.2ft. Draught: 30.2ft. Propulsion: Two sets of DR Geared Steam Turbines. Twin Screw. Service Speed 22.5 knots.

Above: SS Independence – Below” SS Constitution, seen in the mid fifties prior the rebuild

The rebuilding

In 1959, both ships were sent to Newport New, where their forward superstructure was moved 22 feet forward and lifted up by one deck, in order to increase First Class passenger capacity by more than 100 berths. Sadly, the reconstruction changed the previously well balanced, graceful look, especially with the loss of half of the glass enclosed promenade deck and the added height forward. Accommodations were now listed as 484 First Class, 350 Cabin Class, and 254 Tourist Class passengers.

SS Constitution seen after the rebuild of 1959

In 1960 the controlling interest was acquired by Isbrandtsen Co. Inc New York. During their Hey-Day’s they movies were made onboard, with such stars as Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and many others for that matter. They also carried high profile passengers such as President Harry Truman, Alfred Hitchcock, Walt Disney, even King Saud. Both ships continued on the Mediterranean run, however, like most Trans-Atlantic liners of the day, passenger numbers dropped and the service was suspended in 1967. In 1968, both ships were placed on cruise duties.

SS Independence is seen here after the Isbrandtsen Company acquired both ships in 1960

Here comes the Sun

SS Independence was chartered to the American Travel Agency, Diner’s Club/Fugazi who was going to operate her under the name of “Go-Go Cruises” describing her as a one class FunShip. She was repainted white with a massive sun burst, with movie star eyes in the centre, and the massive sunbursts, along the hull, as well as pointing up to the funnels. This look was hardly attractive, in fact it was hideous. This venture soon failed and she was laid up in Baltimore on March 13, 1969.

SS Constitution cruised just for a few months, and she was laid up on September 9, 1968 at Jacksonville. Isbrandtsen placed both ships on the market.

SS Independence seen during her Fugazi “Funship” months in 1968

(Photographer unknown)

Atlantic Far East Line

In January 1974, both the Independence and Constitution were sold to the Atlantic Far East Line Inc., Monrovia, being part of the massive C.Y. Tung group. The Independence was renamed Oceanic Independence and after a refit she commenced cruising, with a new passenger capacity of 950 passengers. However, the Constitution, renamed Oceanic Constitution, was laid up at Hong Kong on August 4, 1974. Oceanic Independence continued to cruise until she was also laid up at Hong Kong on January 17, 1976. In November that year there were rumours that she was to be sold to Shannon SA, of Panama, but, this did not eventuate. Oceanic Independence remained laid up and was renamed Sea Luck I.

American Hawaii Cruises

As they were no longer American flagged ships, C.Y. Tung was not able to operate them within American waters. However, in 1979 both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved their return to the States. In 1980, C.Y. Tung transferred the Oceanic Independence to their newly established; US based American Hawaii Cruises Inc. After extensive repairs and a refit at the Kawasaki Dockyard Co. Ltd, Kobe Japan, Oceanic Independence now accommodated 750 one class passengers, and she was listed as being 20,220 GRT.

CY Tung’s American Hawaii Cruises SS Oceanic Independence seen in 1981

Oceanic Independence departed on her maiden cruise in June, 1980, operating 7-Day cruises around the Hawaiian Islands our of Honolulu. On September 24, 1981, she sustained minor damage off the coast of Nawiliwili, however passengers were safely taken from the ship and flown home. In October she was taken to San Francisco for repairs and soon returned to service. In 1982, American Hawaii Cruises Inc became part of the American Global Line, Inc, and to the joy of American’s she became the SS Independence once again.

With Oceanic Independence having been successful in 1980, SS Oceanic Constitution was refitted in Taiwan and departed for Honolulu with a passenger capacity of 1,088, and was listed at 20,199 GRT.

SS Independence and Constitution seen berthed together in Honolulu

Oceanic Constitution was transferred to the American Global Line, Inc, and was re-christened by Princess Grace of Monaco under her original name. SS Constitution commenced cruising out of Honolulu in June 1982. In 1984, her passenger numbers was reduced to 800. Both ships were officially reregistered in Honolulu in 1987.

SS Constitution in Honolulu

(Photograph by Steven Bingman)

SS Constitution at anchor

(Photograph by Steven Bingman)

In 1994 Independence was withdrawn from service and she headed to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry dock Company for an extensive refit. However, in April 1996 American Hawaii Cruises decided to retire the forty six year old SS Constitution, which they said was due to her high running costs and renovations required. She was finally laid up due the company’s financial problems. During her lay-up many of her parts were taken and were used on Independence.

SS Constitution seen laid up at Portland in 1996

On November 5, 1997, Constitution departed Portland where she had been laid up, under tow by the Chinese Ocean going tug De Da. Twelve days after departure, Whilst under tow heading for an Asian breakers yard, located about 700 miles north of Hawaii, Constitution started to take on water, and due to he imminent sinking the tug cut her loose. On November 17, 1997, the once magnificent Constitution slipped beneath the waves and into history. I personally feel that seemed a better end for this fine ship than hundreds of blowtorches cutting her up! After her demise, her older sister SS Independence became the last US built ocean liner to sail under the American flag.

SS Independence seen after her last refit

Bankruptcy - the end of an era

On October 19, 2001, American Global Line, owners of the American Hawaii Line declared bankruptcy. On October 30, 2001 the grand lady SS Independence departed Honolulu at 1300 hrs sailing for San Francisco. On November 8, she sailed past San Francisco’s Pier 39 at 10:30 am. American Maritime Historian Peter Knego noted; that “the fireboat Phoenix greeted and accompanied Independence from the Golden Gate Bridge to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.” The SS Independence was now the property of the US Maritime Administration, docked was at the former Alameda Naval Station. On January 25, 2002: she was moved to San Francisco’s pier 50.

On March 5, 2002, SS Independence departed assisted by two tugs heading for Suisun Bay, where the US reserve fleet is located. However, she was returned to her San Francisco berth due to her mast was damaged whilst going under the Carquinez Bridge. The top of the mast snapped off just above the radar. Finally on April 12, the Independence was finally laid up in Suisuin Bay together with other US mothballed vessels of the reserve fleet.

The Independence would be refitted, after which both ships would then sail under the new Norwegian Cruise Line's American fleet, called NCL America.

In February 2003, came the announcement that the Independence had been sold at auction for US$4 million to Norwegian Cruise Line NCL, owned by the Malaysian casino/shipping giant, Star Cruises. NCL in return of purchasing both the Independence and the mighty SS United States would be able to set up a US flagged cruise operation, to be named NCL America. The initial promise was that the Independence was to be refitted, after which both she and the SS United States would join the NCL America fleet.

Their Press release at the time also stated: “NCL purchased the vessel (SS Independence) at federal auction from the US Maritime Administration saving her from almost certain scrapping. The potential addition of the SS Independence as a fifth vessel in NCL's US flag operation is being evaluated.” The key word here is the word “evaluated,” which almost certainly means, “Independence will not suitable for NCL America.” After the announcement, SS Independence was moved on April 11 to the former Mare Island Naval Base in Vallejo.

SS Independence laid up at Pier 70

Photo by Larry Vanerwegen

On July 26, 2004, she was returned to San Francisco from Mare Island under tow, and was taken Pier 70. Obviously, she will be laid up for an indefinite period of time, as no work has been scheduled to date.

Mid 2006 Independence was quietly renamed Oceanic, for what reason is anyone’s guess? Colin Veitch announced some time earlier that she had deteriorated considerably and hinted that she could be for scrap which he later dismissed to me via an email on August 18, 2006.

Obviously, we now all know that NCL’s desire of creating a highly profitable American based company has become a reality, and NCL America is now in full operation, however, whilst they may have achieved their goals, both the United States and Independence remain laid up, rapidly rusting away.

SS United States

Sadly, there are many who believe the promises made by NCL’s chairman Colin Veitch, however, I feel that neither ship will ever sail as part of the NCL America fleet. NCL now have what they want, the cynical would say that these ships were simply a means to obtain what NCL wanted, and the last thing NCL America really needs today is two old, rusting steamships. Sadly, to date nothing has been heard of the fate of the SS Independence, a ship that was in good condition and in full operation when the company went bankrupt in 2001. To refurbish her and place her back in service would not have cost a fortune. Thus if NCL could not even do this, what hope is there for the United States, which indeed would have cost a fortune to restore and return to service. It is interesting, 1. The author received information from the US that NCL only has the United States under a lease agreement and do not actually own her, thus, she would still be owned by the Cantor Estate. 2. Several ship brokers have the SS United States listed as being for sale, yet NCL continues with their overtures of having her, and SS Independence restored. If only! All we need to do is look at the disgraceful way Star Cruises/NCL disposed of SS Norway, as they bypassed international toxic waste laws, by continually staing she was 1. going to Germany for repairs and that she would return to Miami. Then, having conveniently served as an accommodation ship for workers of the Pride of America, she was sent to Part Klang Malaysia, with Star Cruises announcing that she would return to service in one form or another. Then after having been sold for scrap, but the ships being returned to Star Cruises due to an outcry in Bangladesh re her toxic waste, Star announced to the Malaysian Maritime board that she was heading for Dubai to be repaired, whilst she had already been sold to Bridgend Shipping and she was heading to a breakers yard at Alang India.

I believe that the Chinese Malaysian “Genting Casino Group’ who operators of Star Cruises, who also own NCL and Orient Line, will treat SS Independence and SS United States in a similar way. Do I trust an Asian Casino operator, NO WAY!

SS Independence’s classic bow – She has now been renamed Oceanic

We sincerely thank Steve Bingman for his contribution to these pages

Index

Page One: History of SS Independence and her sister the SS Constitution

Page Two: Photo Page – From beginning to End

Page Three: Deck Plans - American Export Lines

Page Four: Deck Plan – American Hawaii Cruises

Page Five: New Photo Page of Independence/Oceanic at Pier 70 San Francisco

Photographs by Patrick Race & Jonathan Haeber

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