American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines
company_
fate = Bankruptcy
successor = Farrell Lines
foundation = 1919
defunct = 1977
location = flagicon|United States New York, United States
industry = Shipping
key_people =
products =
num_employees =
parent = American Export Industries
subsid = American Export Airlines
Containers Marine Lines

American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines, New York, was the leading US-flag shipping company between the US east coast and the Mediterranean from 1919 to 1977, offering both Cargo ship services and Passenger ship services, until declaring bankruptcy and was acquired by Farrell Lines, New York.

Company History

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 reorganisations and became the "American Export Lines" in 1936. In 1964, it merged with "Isbrandtsen Co." to become the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines.

Isbrandtsen Steamship Company

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 Co. (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. 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 1943, the joint venture ended; Isbrandtsen formed the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company while 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 [http://about.maersk.com/en/History/Decades/1940/1940OccupationandDeparture.htm ¹] . 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 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. In 1967, he 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 March 1974. After heavy losses and unable to meet crippling debt payments, AEL went into bankruptcy in July 1977, with Farrell Lines buying its remaining ships and port operations in New York a year later. "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 first launched in 1931 and with the exception of the "Exochorda", lost during World War II as a result of enemy fire. The latter ship was sold to Turkish Maritime Lines and renamed "Tarsus".

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.

Cargo shipping services

ubsidiaries

* American Export Airlines
* Containers Marine Lines Isbrandtsen
* Containers Marine Lines

hips

* (MCE-2436)(operated by Isbrandtsen Steamship Co.Inc.)
* SS "Adelphi Victory" (MCV-760)(operated by Isbrandtsen Line), VC2-S-AP2
* (MCV-792), VC2-S-AP2
* SS "Antioch Victory" (MCV-816)(operated by Isbrandtsen Line), VC2-S-AP2
* SS "Argonaut"
* SS "Atlantic"
* SS "Baylor Victory" (MCV-772)(operated by Isbrandtsen Line), VC2-S-AP2
* SS "Beaver Victory" (operated by Isbrandtsen Line)
* SS "Blair"
* SS "Blue Triangle"
* 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 "Cape Nome"
* SS "Cape Race"
* SS "Carenco"
* SS "Charles Carroll" (MCE-15) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "Charles D. Walcott" (MCE-2327) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "City of Athens"
* SS City of St. Joseph
* SS "Clontarf"
* SS Coeur D’Alene
* SS Coeur d'Alene Victory (operated by Isbrandtsen Line)
* SS "Colby Victory" (operated by Isbrandtsen Line)
*
* SS "Corson"
* SS "Darel M. Ritter" (MCE-2838) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* 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)( [http://www.armed-guard.com/mf3821.html 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)
* SS "Exchange" (2)
* SS "Exchequer" (1)
* SS "Exchequer" (2)
* SS "Exchequer" (3)
* SS "Exchester" (1)
* SS "Exchester" (2)
* SS "Exchester" (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)
* 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"
* SS "Export Freedom"
* SS "Export Leader" (MA-257), now the US Navy's SS|Gopher State|T-ACS-4
* SS "Export Patriot"
* 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)
* SS "Extavia" (2), C2-S-A1, Maritime Commission Design
* SS "Exton" (1)
* SS "Exton" (2)
* SS "Exton" (3)
* SS "Faraby"
* SS "Flying Arrow"
* SS "Flying Clipper"
* SS "Flying Cloud"
*
* SS "Flying Endeavor"
* (1)
* SS "Flying Enterprise" (2)
* SS "Flying Fish", a modified C-2 type cargo ship
* SS "Flying Independent"
* SS "Flying Spray"
* SS "Flying Trader"
* SS "Great Republic"
* SS "Hannis Taylor" (MCE-1978) (operated by Isbrandtsen Steamship Co.Inc.)
* SS "Hog Island"
* SS "Hoke Smith" (MCE-1061) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "Horace Binney" (MCE-62) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
*
* 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" [http://www.maritimematters.com/ocean-explorer.html]
* SS "Lahaina Victory" (operated by Isbrandtsen Line)
* SS "Lake Festina"
* SS "Lake Fiscus"
* SS "Lake Frumet"
* SS "Lake Grampus"
* SS "Liberty Land"
* SS "Lightning", 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"
* 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 "Pass Christian Victory" (operated by Isbrandtsen Line)
* SS "Remsen Heights"
* SS "Red Jacket"
* SS "Resolute"
* SS "Robert F. Hoke" (MCE-1968) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "Samuel Gorton" (MCE-1459) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "Sangamon"
* SS "Saucon"
* SS "Saugus"
* NS "Savannah"
* SS "Sawokla"
* SS "Sea Falcon"
* SS "Sea Witch" ( [http://www.armed-guard.com/mf4311.html photo] )
* SS "Seton Hall Victory" (operated by Isbrandtsen Line)
*
* SS "Sinsinawa"
* CV "Staghound", now the US Navy's SS|Cornhusker State|T-ACS-6
* SS "Unicoi"
* SS "Vulcania"
* SS "Ward"
* SS "Will R. Wood" (MCE-1956) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "William P. Fessenden" (MCE-768) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)
* SS "Winona"
* SS "Young America"
* SS "Zebulon B. Vance" (MCE-145) (operated by American Export Lines Inc.)

ome Principal Executives

* Henry Herbermann, 1920-1935
* William H. Coerdale, 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

ee also

* South Street Seaport Museum, where Jakob Isbrandtsen served as its trustee

External links

* [http://aolsvc.timeforkids.kol.aol.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,811715,00.html Time Magazine - Monday, Jan. 16, 1950] — Rugged Individualist
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,935534,00.html Time Magazine - Monday, Oct. 09, 1950] — Sea Lawyer
* [http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnameindex.html Maritime Matters — index of Ocean liners and cruise ships]
* [http://www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/ael.htm Passenger service time tables]
* [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/AmericanExport.html Postcards featuring American Export Lines ships]
* [http://www.bayandpaulfoundations.org/index.html Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation]
* [http://www.fotw.us/flags/us~hfi.html#isbrandtsen Flags of the Isbrandtsen Steamship Company]
* [http://www.fotw.us/flags/us~hfaa.html#americanexport Flags of the American Export Lines]
* [http://www.fotw.us/flags/us~hfaa.html#aei Flag of the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines]
* [http://www.cabinclass.com/dinnerinthediner/pages/archives/steamship/amxp_01.htm Passenger service dinnerware]
* [http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/americanexport.htm Detailed history of American Export Lines]
* [http://quincy.hbs.edu:8080/lehman/company_histories/a/companyHistory.html?companyName=American%20Export%20Industries%2C%20Inc. American Export Industries, Inc.]
* [http://www.us-maritime-commission.de/ Shipbuilding under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936]

References

* "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. [http://books.google.com/books?id=rQJcXRK0gkQC&dq= "A Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Merchant Marine and Shipping Industry Since the Introduction of Steam"] (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994).