WSS-PONY BRANCH MEETINGS AND EVENTS
NY HARBOR NEWS & NOTES
WHAT'S NEW ON THE WEBSITE
  • 2019 PONY CRUISE SCHEDULE Posted - 1/21/2019
  • November 2018 edition of the PORTHOLE posted - 01/18/19
  • New MARITIME NEW YORK compendium of lectures, exhibits, tours and transportation around the Port of New York updated- 9/25/2018

UPCOMING

January 2019

Friday, January 25, 2019 - 6:45 PM (Note changed meeting time)
POST-WAR SHIPS OF AMERICAN EXPORT LINES
THE GENIUS BEHIND THE CONSTITUTION, INDEPENDENCE & FOUR ACES
Presented by Christian Roden
Placido Domingo Hall, Opera America/The National Opera Center
330 Seventh Ave, 7th Floor (at West 29th Street), Manhattan

When American Export Lines began making plans to resume transatlantic service after World War II, vice president John Slater realized that economic circumstances were changing significantly. Technological developments meant that affordable high-speed air travel was projected to reduce transoceanic journeys from a week to a matter of hours. It was thought that within a decade, ocean liners would become obsolete. Until then, however, large ships were still the most economically viable option, and American Export felt that the company’s investment should remain as profitable and competitive with airline traffic for as long as possible.

To help ensure this, the company hired the renowned industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss, a Brooklyn native, to oversee the design and construction of the postwar fleet. His firm, Henry Dreyfuss Associates, had been a major player on the industrial design scene for fifteen years. Major clients included Western Electric, Bell Telephone Systems and the New York Central Railroad for which he designed an Art Deco streamlined shroud for their Hudson locomotives along with four train sets for the 1938 20th Century Limited.

On the maritime scene, which is the focus of this talk, Dreyfuss designed six ships for the American Export Lines between 1945 and 1951, beginning with the Four Aces, and then most famously, the CONSTITUTION and INDEPENDENCE.

Christian Roden is the Assistant Director of Data Management and Prospect Research for the University of Pennsylvania Library. He was a 2011-2012 Fulbright Research Fellow to France, researching the career of the S.S. ILE DE FRANCE at the Association des Lignes Francaises in Le Havre. He has subsequently worked as the Curatorial Associate for the SS United States Conservancy. His lifelong passion has been the history of ocean liners.

February 2019

February 15, 2019 - 6:00 PM
CROSSING & CRUISING
THE QE2 AND THE GREAT CUNARDERS
Presented by Bill Miller
Placido Domingo Hall, Opera America/The National Opera Center
330 Seventh Avenue, 7th floor (at West 29th Street), Manhattan

The year 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the beloved, iconic QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 -- the QE2. While that extraordinary ship, the most successful liner ever, lives on out in Dubai, it is the perfect occasion to celebrate both the ship and its owners. No company has the grand history that belongs to Cunard.

On Friday, February 15th, the PONY Branch will once again welcome Bill Miller, “Mr. Ocean Liner,” who will take us on a "voyage," a voyage of recollection and remembrance, beginning with the first Queens, the immortal QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH.  While we will "travel" to the current age of three modern Queens (with a fourth expected in 2022), other Company liners will make "guest appearances" – including the AQUITANIA, MAURITANIA, CARONIA, BRITANNIC and more.

The whistle is sounding -- all aboard for a voyage of Cunard history and 50 years for the QE2!

August 2019

Sunday, August 18, 2019
OCEANIA CRUISES' MV INSIGNIA MARITIME ENTHUSIASTS CRUISE

(Photo credit: Stuart Gewirtzman)

For the first time ever, Oceania Cruises will offer 7-night round-trip sailings from New York to Bermuda in 2019. And at just 30,000 tons and 700 passengers, the INSIGNIA will be able to call at the traditional Bermuda ports of Hamilton and St. George’s, which are off limits to today’s mega-ships—the first ship in years to offer this itinerary from New York. Come join fellow PONY Branch members for this rare chance to take part in the time-honored tradition of cruising from New York to Bermuda in one of today’s finest ships. See flyer for details.