SS Independence

SS Independence

SS Independence was an ocean liner built in 1951 for American Export Lines. Between 1974 and 1982 she sailed as Oceanic Independence for Atlantic Far East Lines and American Hawaii Cruises, after which she reverted to her original name. Independence was then operated by American Global Line between 1982 and 1996, and again American Hawaii Cruises until 2001 when she was laid up in San Francisco.

In 2006 the ship was renamed Oceanic and, after being mothballed for seven years, she left San Francisco for Singapore on 8 February 2008. The destination later changed to Dubai. In 2009 she was renamed Platinum II and left Dubai under tow for the shipbreaking yards in Alang, India. After having been turned away from the scrap yards due to hazardous materials she was grounded off Alang. Later her hull broke in two aft of the smokestacks, making refloating impossible. She was scrapped on the spot.

Independence had a sister ship, SS Constitution, which sank while under tow en route to be scrapped in 1997.