American Hawaii Cruises News

In the fall of 1999, American Classic Voyages (AMCV) announced plans to almost singlehandedly revive the business of building cruise ships in the United States. Critics claimed it couldn’t be done, but the ships steadily took shape on the building ways in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Two years, a sour economy and horrific terrorist attacks later, the dream of building cruise ships in the U.S. is seemingly dead, as AMCV filed for Chapter 11 and the Maritime Administration is unwilling, at press time, to fund the ships further. While the cruise industry was hurting prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, the industry has been put into a seemingly perpetual tailspin as economic woes and fear of travel have conspired to leave ships far from full capacity.

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.

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.

The Maritime Port Council of Greater New York and Vicinity has jointly honored Philip Calian, CEO of American Classic Voyages Co. (AMCV), and Jerry St. Pé, COO of Litton Ship Systems, with the Council's Man of the Year Management Award for 1999. Calian and St. Pé were recognized for their roles in returning the construction of major, ocean-going passenger ships back to the U.S. Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss., is building two 1,900-passenger state-of-the-art cruise ships for AMCV in the Project America program, with an option for a third vessel. The new cruise ships will sail under AMCV's new brand United States Lines, one of the most storied names in the history of ocean-going passenger transportation. The program has a total potential value of $1.4 billion.