{{Short description|Ocean liner}} {{about|the ocean liner|the United States Navy frigate|USS Constitution|other ships|Constitution (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = S.S. Constitution, American Export Lines, by Tichnor Brothers, c. 1950s, from the Digital Commonwealth - 1 commonwealth 8g84mw21v.jpg | image_caption = SS ''Constitution'' in the 1950s }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = United States | flag = {{shipboxflag|United States|civil}} | name = *1951–1974: ''Constitution'' *1974–1982: ''Oceanic Constitution'' *1982–1997: ''Constitution'' | owner = *1951–1974: American Export Lines *1974–1979: Atlantic Far East Lines *1980–1982: American Hawaii Cruises *1982–1996: American Global Line *1996–1997: American Hawaii Cruises | operator = | registry = * 1951–1974: New York, {{flag|United States}} * 1980–1997: Honolulu, {{flag|United States}}<ref name=FoF /> | route = | ordered = | builder = Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, US | original_cost = | yard_number = 1619<ref name=FoF>{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/constitution_1951.htm |title=T/S Constitution (1951) |accessdate=2010-01-24 |author=Micke Asklander |language=Swedish |work=Fakta om Fartyg }}</ref> | way_number = | laid_down = 1950 | launched = September 16, 1950<ref name=FoF /> | completed = 1951 | christened = | acquired = | maiden_voyage = June 25, 1951<ref name=FoF /> | in_service = 1951 | out_of_service = 1997 | identification = {{IMO Number|5078882}} | fate = Sank while under tow to shipbreakers on November 17, 1997 | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = (as built)<ref name=FoF /> | type = Ocean liner | tonnage = *{{GRT|23754}} *{{NRT|11229}} *{{DWT|7250|metric}} | length = {{convert|208.01|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|27.18|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | draft = {{convert|9.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | depth = | decks = | power = 2 × Bethlehem Steel Corporation steam turbines; 40456 kW | propulsion = | speed = {{convert|23|kn|lk=in}} | capacity = 1,000 passengers | crew = | notes = }}
|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = (after 1959 refit)<ref name=FoF /> | type = Cruise ship | tonnage = {{GRT|23754|metric}} | displacement = | length = | beam = | height = | draft = | depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = | power = | propulsion = | speed = | capacity = 395 passengers | crew = | notes = }}
|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = (after 1974 refit)<ref name=FoF /> | tonnage = | displacement = | length = | beam = | height = | draft = | depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = | power = | propulsion = | speed = | capacity = 950 passengers | crew = | notes = }}
|section6={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = (after 1980 refit)<ref name=FoF /> | tonnage = {{GRT|20221|metric}} | displacement = | length = | beam = | height = | draft = | depth = | decks = | deck_clearance = | ramps = | power = | propulsion = | speed = | capacity = 1,073 passengers | crew = | notes = }} }}
'''SS ''Constitution''''' was an ocean liner owned by American Export Lines, sister ship of {{SS|Independence}}. Both were constructed in the United States and made their maiden voyages in 1951.
== History == {{see|SS Independence}}
[[File:Ss Constitution1953.jpg|thumb|left|SS ''Constitution'' on a visit to Haifa on March 10, 1953]] ''Constitution'' was constructed at Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/new-castle/new-castle-news/1950/04-05/page-10|url-access=subscription|title=Biggest Ever Made In the U.S. |work=New Castle News |date=August 5, 1950 |access-date=February 5, 2026|quote=... trailer trucks haul biggest propellers ever made for a passenger ship in the U.S. to Bethlehem's shipyards at Quincy, Mass., for installation on the luxury liner ''Constitution'', now under construction.}}</ref> and commissioned in 1951. She started her long career sailing on the New York City-Genoa-Naples-Gibraltar route to Europe. Following service on American Export's "Sunlane" cruise to Europe in the 1950s and 1960s, the two ships sailed for American Hawaii Cruises and American Global Line for many years in the 1980s and 1990s. U.S. ships with U.S. crews meeting the criteria of the Passenger Services Act were able to cruise the Islands{{what|date=May 2024}} without sailing to a foreign port. {{stack| [[File:SS Constitution.jpg|thumb|SS ''Constitution'' in Hawaii]] [[File:Ss-constitution-hawaii-8-1986-a.jpg|thumb|SS ''Constitution'' in Hawaii, August 1986]] [[File:Ss-constitution-hawaii-8-1986-b.jpg|thumb|SS ''Constitution'' in Hawaii, August 1986]] }} ''Constitution'' was retired in 1995; while under tow to be scrapped, the liner sank 800 miles (1300 km) north of the Hawaiian Islands on November 17, 1997. The exact location of the wreck has yet to be discovered.<ref name="ChicagoTribJan1998">{{cite news |last1=Klages |first1=Karen |date=January 18, 1998 |title=Sunken Cruise Ship's Stash Resurfaces at Area Shop |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-01-18-9801180163-story.html |access-date=August 26, 2022 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
== In popular culture == ''Constitution'' was featured in several episodes of the situation comedy ''I Love Lucy'' starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, starting with episode, "Bon Voyage," aired January 16, 1956. Lucy Ricardo missed the ship and had to be ferried by air by a then-novel helicopter.
American movie actress Grace Kelly sailed aboard ''Constitution'' from New York to Monaco for her wedding to Prince Rainier in 1956.
''Constitution'' was featured in the 1957 film, ''An Affair to Remember'' starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Former President Harry S. Truman and his wife Bess sailed back to New York from Europe on the ''Constitution'' in the summer of 1958. The ship was also featured in the beginning and end of an episode of the ''Naked City'' TV series titled "No Naked Ladies in Front of Giovanni's House!" aired April 17, 1963. The ship also featured prominently in the ''Magnum, P.I.'' television series episode titled "All Thieves on Deck" aired January 30, 1986.
== Sinking == The SS ''Constitution'' was retired from the American Hawaii Cruises fleet in 1995 and had fallen into disrepair by 1997.<ref name="Model Ship Master details">{{cite web |url= https://www.modelshipmaster.com/products/ocean_liners/ss_constitution.htm |title= SS Constitution Cruise Ship |work = ModelShipMaster.com | date = |access-date=February 14, 2025}}</ref> On November 17, 1997, the ship was being towed to a scrapping shipyard to be dismantled when it sank about 800 miles north of Hawaii.<ref name="Wrecksite details">{{cite web |url= https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?169847 |title= SS Constitution |work = Wrecksite.com | date = December 27, 2011|access-date=February 14, 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|IMO 5078882}} *[http://www.ssmaritime.com/ss-independence-constitution.htm History and photos of ''Constitution'' and ''Independence''] *[http://magnum-mania.com/Pics/Screen_Caps_Season_Six_4.html#6.15 Photo page for ''Magnum, P.I.'' episode "All Thieves on Deck"] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inPAz7P-ctw First-hand travel experience near the end of Constitution's career]
{{Type P3 ships}} {{1997 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Constitution}} Category:Type P3 ships Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts Category:1950 ships Category:Passenger ships of the United States Category:Ocean liners Category:Maritime incidents in 1997 Category:Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean Category:Cruise ships of the United States Category:Ships of American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines