HMS Global Maritime
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Maritime transportation |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | John Waggoner |
| Headquarters | New Albany , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (primarily North America and Japan) |
Key people | John Waggoner (CEO) |
| Products | River cruises, ferry operations, vessel operation and maintenance, maritime consulting |
HMS Global Maritime is a maritime enterprise based in New Albany, Indiana. It encompasses five distinct branches: American Queen Steamboat Company, Victory Cruise Line, HMS Ferries, Seaward Services, and HMS Consulting. The firm conducts operations worldwide, with a primary focus on North America and Japan.
History
Established in 1994 under the name Hornblower Marine Services by John Waggoner, who previously served as marine operations director at Hornblower Cruises, HMS Global Maritime has experienced substantial expansion.
In 2018, the company was honored with Louisville Business First's "Business of the Year" award in the very large company segment. A federal court decision in 2020 ruled in favor of HMS Global Maritime regarding a passenger lawsuit that alleged violations of state law and constitutional rights.
American Queen Steamboat Company
HMS Global Maritime acquired the steamboat American Queen in 2011, a vessel that had been in service for 16 years before its prior operator, Majestic America Line, ceased activities in 2008. This acquisition was facilitated by a $9 million loan from Memphis, Tennessee, leading to the creation of American Queen Steamboat Company.
The AQSC fleet consists of four river cruise ships registered in the U.S.: American Queen (relaunched in 2012), American Empress (2014), American Duchess (2017), and American Countess (2020). These vessels traverse key waterways including the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Illinois, Columbia, and Snake Rivers.
Victory Cruise Lines
Victory Cruise Lines was purchased by HMS Global Maritime in 2019. Following the acquisition, its two ships were temporarily withdrawn from service for extensive multi-million dollar refurbishments. CEO John Waggoner highlighted considerable interest from American Queen Steamboat Company clientele for cruises on the Great Lakes.
The line operates the vessels Victory I and Victory II, which sail the Great Lakes during summer months and the U.S. East Coast along with Mexico during winter. A third ship, Ocean Victory, is planned to debut in 2021 for Alaska voyages.
HMS Ferries
As a branch of HMS Global Maritime, HMS Ferries manages ferry operations throughout the United States, including:
- Channel Cat (Quad Cities)
- Gees Bend Ferry (connecting Camden and Gees Bend, AL)
- Governor's Island Ferry (New York City, NY)
- Mobile Bay Ferry (Mobile Bay, AL)
- Oklahoma River Cruises (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Pierce County Ferry (linking Steilacoom, WA; Anderson Island; Ketron Island)
- RiverLink Ferry (between Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ)
- St. John's River Ferry (Jacksonville, FL)
Seaward Services
Seaward Services specializes in the operation, upkeep, and repair of both government and private vessels, holding contracts such as those for the USNS Guam.
HMS Consulting
HMS Consulting offers expertise in maritime business growth, safety protocols, risk assessment, and technical consulting.