SS Exochorda
Encyclopedia
SS Exochorda, a 473-foot, 14,500-ton cargo liner
in service with American Export Lines from 1948 to 1959. A member of the line's post-war quartet of ships, "4 Aces", Exochorda sailed regularly from New York on a Mediterranean route. Originally built in 1944 as the military attack transport USS Dauphin (APA-97)
, the ship was extensively refurbished prior to her service as a passenger-cargo liner. Following her service as a cruise liner, the vessel served as the floating dormitory ship for the students of Stevens Institute of Technology
, a technological university, in Hoboken, NJ. At the end of her service life she was scrapped, in 1979.
vessels. The vessel that would later become Exochorda served as Dauphin
for the US Navy, from 1944 to 1948. Dauphin was awarded one battle star in the assault on and occupation of Okinawa and earned the Navy Occupation Service Medal for landing cargo and troops in Japan. She was present in Tokyo Bay
for the Surrender Ceremony of World War II, 2 September 1945.
Following the war, in November 1947, the ships were returned to dry dock at the Hoboken Yard of Bethlehem Steel Corporation for conversion back to passenger cargo ships for American Export Lines. Dauphin became Exochorda of the post-war "4 Aces", taking her new name from her predecessor in the pre-war fleet.
Fashioning the modern (1948) cruise liner Exochorda from Dauphin required stripping the vessel to the bare hull and machinery. An entirely new superstructure was built that included passenger staterooms located primarily on promenade and "A" decks. Approximately 2 million pounds of steel and miles of cables and piping were needed to completely refurbish the structure.
Noted industrial decorator Henry Dreyfuss, whose many designs included the "Twentieth Century Limited
" locomotive (1938) for the New York Central Railroad
, and the "500" desk telephone
(1949), the Bell System
standard for 45 years, designed the interiors. Zalud Marine Corporation executed the design, including joiner work, that included thousands of feet of carpet, specially woven fabrics and an unusual amount of glass.
Exochorda was among the first ships with fully air-conditioned staterooms, many of which were also soundproofed. The ship's glass enclosed promenade deck featured a built-in swimming pool and play area adjacent to a modern bar and smoking room.
Sea safety standards were unusually high and included modern (1948) smoke detection, fire control and fireproofing.
On the day following her final sea trials, 26 October 1948, the ship was formally delivered to American Export Lines at the company's terminal at Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ. Delivery had been delayed due to a faulty valve that needed replacement. Exochorda departed on her maiden voyage November 1948.
to create a mural reflecting the ship's Mediterranean sailing route, to be located in the ship's main foyer. Other notable artwork included white-on-black depictions of life at sea — whimsical "doodles" by artist Saul Steinberg
— which added subtle context to Promenade's bar and smoking lounge. While in the dining lounge, passengers were treated to Loren MacIver's mural portrayal of trade and commerce activities along the sailing route. Despite being pictured in promenade's forward lounge in many "4 Aces" print advertisements, sculptress Mitzi Solomon
had created only two unique marble carvings that were used on other "4 Aces" vessels.
Cargo liner
A Cargo liner is a type of merchant ship which carried general cargo and often passengers. They became common just after the middle of the nineteenth century, and eventually gave way to container ships and other more specialized carriers in the latter half of the twentieth...
in service with American Export Lines from 1948 to 1959. A member of the line's post-war quartet of ships, "4 Aces", Exochorda sailed regularly from New York on a Mediterranean route. Originally built in 1944 as the military attack transport USS Dauphin (APA-97)
USS Dauphin (APA-97)
USS Dauphin was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.Dauphin was named after Dauphin County, Pennsylvania...
, the ship was extensively refurbished prior to her service as a passenger-cargo liner. Following her service as a cruise liner, the vessel served as the floating dormitory ship for the students of Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
, a technological university, in Hoboken, NJ. At the end of her service life she was scrapped, in 1979.
Diverted for war service
In 1944 American Export Lines built a new fleet of "4 Aces" ships, planned to replace the earlier, pre-war "4 Aces". However, the ships were requisitioned by the US Navy for service in World War II and converted to Windsor-class attack transportWindsor class attack transport
The Windsor-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport. Ships of the class saw service in World War II.Like all attack transports, the purpose of the Windsors was to transport troops and their equipment to foreign shores in order to execute amphibious invasions using an array of...
vessels. The vessel that would later become Exochorda served as Dauphin
USS Dauphin (APA-97)
USS Dauphin was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.Dauphin was named after Dauphin County, Pennsylvania...
for the US Navy, from 1944 to 1948. Dauphin was awarded one battle star in the assault on and occupation of Okinawa and earned the Navy Occupation Service Medal for landing cargo and troops in Japan. She was present in Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
for the Surrender Ceremony of World War II, 2 September 1945.
Following the war, in November 1947, the ships were returned to dry dock at the Hoboken Yard of Bethlehem Steel Corporation for conversion back to passenger cargo ships for American Export Lines. Dauphin became Exochorda of the post-war "4 Aces", taking her new name from her predecessor in the pre-war fleet.
Extensive Refurbishment
Noted industrial decorator Henry Dreyfuss, whose many designs included the "Twentieth Century Limited
20th Century Limited
The 20th Century Limited was an express passenger train operated by the New York Central Railroad from 1902 to 1967, during which time it would become known as a "National Institution" and the "Most Famous Train in the World". In the year of its last run, The New York Times said that it "...was...
" locomotive (1938) for the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
, and the "500" desk telephone
Model 500 telephone
The Western Electric model 500 telephone series was the standard desk-style domestic telephone set issued by the Bell System in North America from late 1949 through the 1984 Bell System divestiture. Millions of model 500-series phones were produced and were present in almost every home in North...
(1949), the Bell System
Bell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
standard for 45 years, designed the interiors. Zalud Marine Corporation executed the design, including joiner work, that included thousands of feet of carpet, specially woven fabrics and an unusual amount of glass.
Exochorda was among the first ships with fully air-conditioned staterooms, many of which were also soundproofed. The ship's glass enclosed promenade deck featured a built-in swimming pool and play area adjacent to a modern bar and smoking room.
Sea safety standards were unusually high and included modern (1948) smoke detection, fire control and fireproofing.
On the day following her final sea trials, 26 October 1948, the ship was formally delivered to American Export Lines at the company's terminal at Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ. Delivery had been delayed due to a faulty valve that needed replacement. Exochorda departed on her maiden voyage November 1948.
Artwork
All artwork for the new 4 Aces ships had been selected by interior designer Henry Dreyfuss. Dreyfuss had commissioned artist Miné OkuboMiné Okubo
Miné Okubo , a pioneering Nisei woman, artist and writer, created approximately 2000 drawings and sketches of her experiences while confined along with approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans in US internment camps following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor...
to create a mural reflecting the ship's Mediterranean sailing route, to be located in the ship's main foyer. Other notable artwork included white-on-black depictions of life at sea — whimsical "doodles" by artist Saul Steinberg
Saul Steinberg
Saul Steinberg was a Romanian-born American cartoonist and illustrator, best known for his work for The New Yorker.-Biography:...
— which added subtle context to Promenade's bar and smoking lounge. While in the dining lounge, passengers were treated to Loren MacIver's mural portrayal of trade and commerce activities along the sailing route. Despite being pictured in promenade's forward lounge in many "4 Aces" print advertisements, sculptress Mitzi Solomon
Mitzi Cunliffe
Mitzi Solomon Cunliffe was an American sculptor. She was most famous for designing the golden trophy in the shape of a theatrical mask that would go on to represent the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and be presented as the BAFTA award...
had created only two unique marble carvings that were used on other "4 Aces" vessels.
Timeline of vessel
- USS Dauphin (APA-97)USS Dauphin (APA-97)USS Dauphin was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.Dauphin was named after Dauphin County, Pennsylvania...
- 22 December 1943 — Laid down (as cargo ship)
- 10 June 1944 — Completed as Windsor-classWindsor class attack transportThe Windsor-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport. Ships of the class saw service in World War II.Like all attack transports, the purpose of the Windsors was to transport troops and their equipment to foreign shores in order to execute amphibious invasions using an array of...
military attack transport and launched by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland - 23 September 1944 — Transferred to NavyNavyA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
and commissioned as DauphinUSS Dauphin (APA-97)USS Dauphin was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.Dauphin was named after Dauphin County, Pennsylvania... - 2 September 1945 — Present at the Surrender Ceremony of World War II in Tokyo BayTokyo Bayis a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
- 30 April 1946 — DauphinUSS Dauphin (APA-97)USS Dauphin was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.Dauphin was named after Dauphin County, Pennsylvania...
decommissioned - 1948 — DauphinUSS Dauphin (APA-97)USS Dauphin was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.Dauphin was named after Dauphin County, Pennsylvania...
sold for commercial service
- SS Exochorda
- 1948 — Refurbished as passenger-cargo ship, SS Exochorda, for American Export Lines
- 2 November 1948 — Maiden voyage of Exochorda
- 1948–1959 — Exochorda served as passenger-cargo ship sailing from New York to the Mediterranean
- 15 March 1959 — Exochorda towed to Bethlehem Steel Corp. for preparation to be placed in reserve fleet
- 1959–1967 — Returned to the US Maritime Administration and mothballed in Hudson River Reserve Fleet at Stony Point, NY
- June 1967 — The U.S. Maritime Administration announced plans to sell the former cruise liner, Exochorda, for either non-transportation use or scrap
- 28 September 1967 — Announcement of Stevens Institute of Technology's bid of $130,301 for Exochorda
- October 1967 — US Maritime Administration awards Exochorda to Stevens Institute of Technology for $130,301 to be used as a floating dormitory
- 4 October 1967 — Exochorda was towed from the Hudson River Reserve Fleet in Jones Point, N.Y. to the Hoboken Yard of Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Hoboken, New JerseyHoboken, New JerseyHoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
to be refurbished as a dormitory - 10 November 1967 — Vessel towed from the Bethlehem Steel Corporation to the school-owned Eight Street Pier, Stevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of TechnologyStevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
, Hoboken, NJ
-
- November 1967 — Christened SS Stevens
- January 1968 — First student residents of Stevens moved aboard
- 23 May 1975 — Last student leaves Stevens
- 26 August 1975 — Last Voyage: towed from Hoboken NJ to a shipyard in Chester, PA
- 1975–1979 — Partially dismantled in Chester, PA
- March 1979 — Resold to scrappers at Kearny, NJ