United States Lines Floats Again

American Classic Voyages has acquired one of the most storied and renowned names in the history of ocean-going passenger transportation - United States Lines - to be used for its fleet of cruise ships being developed under the company's Project America initiative. Known as one of the most prominent names in passenger shipping throughout the era of the trans-Atlantic crossing - a period that spanned from the early 1900's through the early 1960's. The last remaining vessel of the fleet, SS United States, was decommissioned in 1969. AMCV unveiled the new logo for the new line as designed by Tom Grabowski & Associates, which focuses on a stylized, American bald eagle centered on a field of nine gold stars. With construction to be completed by Ingalls Shipbuilding, the first of the 72,000-gt Project America newbuildings is scheduled to enter service in winter 2003 - followed by the second vessel one year later. Combined with the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, which was recently contracted for acquisition from Holland America, these three vessels will make up the United States Lines fleet.