World Ship Society Port of New York Branch

Arthur Imperatore, who launched a renaissance of ferry service in New York City when he founded NY Waterway in 1986, has passed away at the age of 95.

NOVEMBER MEETING SHIPS OF STATE, PACIFIC STYLE: THE PRESIDENT JACKSON-CLASS OF 1940 Eighty years ago, November 1940 marked the debut of the PRESIDENT JACKSON, the first of seven round-the-world passenger-cargo liners designed to help American President Lines rise from the ashes of the Dollar Line. The JACKSON-class was also tasked with stemming the insurgence of the Japanese Merchant Marine, represented by the NYK Line and OSK Line. At our November 20th virtual membership mee...ting, the PONY Branch welcomed Wayne Yanda who described the trans-Pacific rivalry of the U.S. and Japan during the interwar years, and how it led to the creation of the PRESIDENT JACKSON-class. We also learned about a nationwide mural competition, fraught with conflict, held to decorate these little 9,500 gross-ton liners, and viewed rarely seen images of ships from both sides of the Pacific. (Images: Wayne Yanda collection/National Archives) See more

OCTOBER MEETING ICON OF IDENTITY: THE ‘ILE DE FRANCE’ ON THE WORLD STAGE The ILE DE FRANCE was recognized around the world as an extension of French society. Conceived as a way of proclaiming the nation’s political influence and cultural achievement through her groundbreaking Art Deco interiors, over the course of her thirty-two year career the vessel found herself playing the role of trendsetter, cinema muse, troopship, and rescue vessel. At our October 30th virtual membership meeting, the PONY Branch once again welcomed historian Christian Roden, an independent maritime historian, curator, and author, who shared long-forgotten stories of the ILE DE FRANCE he uncovered at the Association French Line archives in Le Havre. (Images: Christian Roden and Ted Scull collections)

Sad but inevitable......

SEPTEMBER MEETING ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINE -- 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION In November 2020, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, one of the most iconic names in the cruise industry, will mark the 50th anniversary of the inaugural voyage of SONG OF NORWAY. At roughly 18,400 gross tons and 552 feet, this ship would now be considered diminutive compared to the Freedom-Class, Oasis-Class and Quantum-Class successors in the Royal Caribbean fleet. With an eye-catching lounge cantilevered fr...om its funnel, Royal Caribbean’s first ship was a harbinger of innovations to come in both design and passenger amenities. At our September 25th virtual membership meeting, the PONY Branch welcomed cruise historian and maritime journalist Allan Jordan, who entertained us with stories about the company and its history, and described the evolution of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships from SONG OF NORWAY to its first mega ship, SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, and finally to today’s largest cruise ship SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS. (Royal Caribbean photos) See more