The American Export Lines The Export Steamship Corporation was founded in 1919 and began operating cargo services to the Mediterranean from New York. In 1931 they placed in service four cargo-passenger liners, Excalibur, Excambion, Exeter, and Exochorda, known as the "Four Aces". The timing of their introduction was not good, immediately preceding the depression. To remain solvent, the company went through various reorganizations, becoming the American Export Lines in 1936. The "Four Aces" served as military transports during the war, and only Exochorda survived, to be sold to Turkish Maritime Lines in 1946. Few postcards of marine ships and Holy Land views were published by the American Export line.