Steamship Historical Society Honors Ships, People
The Ship of the Year Award honors a vessel that has made or is making a major contribution to the purpose of the society. The winner of the 2000 award is the Independence of American Hawaii Cruises, which is now nearing her 50th anniversary in service. After serving on the Atlantic for 17 years, Independence has spent the last 21 years successfully sailing in the Hawaiian Islands. Independence, and her sister Constitution, was the American alternative to the Italian Line ships that dominated the New York to Italy service in the 1950's. Independence was built for the American Export Line in 1951 at the Bethlehem Steel Company yard in Quincy, Mass. She was built with a gross tonnage of 30,293, a length of 683 ft., width of 89 ft. and a service speed of 23 knots.
United States Lines -- Flying High Again
As far back to the early 1900's when the transatlantic crossing ruled the day, the motto of the cruise ship industry was to provide passengers with a vacation that was both relaxing and hospitable. For the most part, the majority of these passengers were of American descent — boarding vessels registered in foreign countries and were serviced by non-American crewmembers. Such is the case now as the major playing cruise companies adhere to these customs. All that changed though, this past March when, American Classic Voyages, headed by CEO, Philip C. Calian, broke ground in the cruise shipping industry with its decision to build and operate two U.S.-flag cruise vessels as part of its newly-established United States Lines. It has often been said that you never forget your roots.
AMCV To Acquire MS Nieuw Amsterdam
American Classic Voyages (AMCV) has reached an agreement with Holland America line to buy MS Nieuw Amsterdam for $114.5 million, contingent upon various conditions expected to be resolved by this coming fall. A unit of Carnival Corporation, Holland America Line is scheduled to transfer the 1,214-passenger cruise ship to AMCV during fall 2000. AMCV plans to re-document Nieuw Amsterdam as a U.S.-flag vessel, complete with American crew, to sail the Hawaiian Islands as part of the company's Project America - the result of the U.S.-Flag Cruise Ship Pilot Project Statute passed by Congress in 1997. The project, which is expected to create more than 5,000 American jobs, is based on the goal of the revitalization of the U.S.-flag oceangoing cruise ship fleet.
