My Watercraft Philately

Special Cover: Floating Post Office and Museum, Dal Lake - Srinagar

2012-01-29T11:57:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: August 22, 2011

India Post - Jammu & Kashmir Circle, Srinagar issued two special covers on occasion of inauguration of India's first Floating Post Office and Museum at Dal Lake, Srinagar.

Dal Lake: a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of the northernmost Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is nicknamed the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel." The lake is popular as a visitor attraction and a summer resort. Swimming, boating, snow skiing (particularly when the lake is frozen during the severe winter), and canoeing are amongst some of the water sports activities practiced on the lake.

Houseboats: Houseboats and the Dal Lake are widely associated with Srinagar and are nicknamed "floating palaces", built according to British customs. The houseboats are generally made from local cedar-wood and measure 24–38 metres (79–125 ft) in length and 3–6 metres (9.8–20 ft) in width and are graded in a similar fashion to hotels according to level of comfort. One such boat is now converted into a "Floating Post Office and Museum."

Besides offering normal services, the place is also having a philately museum and a shop that will sell postage stamps and other products. In addition, pictorial postmark (see image on right) is introduced showing Shikara, which will attract tourists.

Shikara: A shikara is small paddled taxi boat, often about 15 feet (4.6 m) long) and made of wood with a canopy and a spade shaped bottom. It is the cultural symbol of Kashmir and is used not only for ferrying visitors but is also used for the vending of fruits, vegetables and flowers and for the fishing and harvesting of aquatic vegetation. A shikara can seat about six people and have heavily cushioned seats and backrests to provide comfort in Mughul style.

All houseboat owners provide shikara transport to their house guests free of charge. The shikara is also used to provide for other sightseeing locations in the valley, notably a cruise along the Jhelum River, offering scenic views of the Pir Panjal mountains and passing through the famous seven bridges and the backwaters enroute.

Text source: Wikipedia

Naval Hospital: INHS Kalyani - 25th Anniv Special Cover

2012-01-24T17:19:00.001+05:30

Date of Issue: May 18, 1987

Special Cover issued to commemorate 25th Anniversary of INHS Kalyani - Indian Navy Hospital at Vishakhapatnam, Head Quarters - Eastern Naval Command. This year 2012 marks 50th Anniversary, and I think there may be a special cover issued.

INHS Kalyani - the only Naval Hospital in the Eastern Naval Command was inaugurated by Vice Admiral R D Katari on 26 Apr 1962 by converting sickbay INS Circars into a Naval Hospital. It was commissioned on 18 May 1962 as a 60 bed hospital within the premises of INS Circars by the first Commanding Officer Surg Cdr Manindra Chandra Nath. In 1966 the crest of INHS Kalyani was published in NO 97/66.

The crest depicts a lotus flower with the rising sun in the background depicting life and health which is the major mission of INHS Kalyani. The word Kalyani means “Auspicious” and also refers to the holy temple baths of the scriptures that are credited with healing powers. A dip in the holy bath is considered enough to cure all physical ills and provide mental peace and tranquillity. The name was chosen to represent the holistic healing process being bestowed on all who come into contact with INHS Kalyani. The word “Kalyani” is also the name of the Goddess of Welfare.

Text Source: Indiannavy.nic.in

French Ship Forbin (D635)

2012-01-09T11:48:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: November 11, 2011

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF - Terres australes et antarctiques françaises) and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (S.P.&M. - a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France, situated in the northwestern Atlantic ocean near Canada) jointly issued stamps on Nov 11, 2011. The miniature sheet shown above is of TAAF.

Forbin (D635): Six ships of the French Navy have been named Forbin in honor of the 17th century admiral Claude Forbin-Gardanne. The Forbin D635 is a T 53 Class Destroyer and fleet escort ship (1955 - 1992).

My Blog - 3rd Birthday

2012-01-08T11:06:00.001+05:30

On this very same day three years ago, I took my first step in blogging for my hobby. Now today I'm celebrating 3 golden years and stepping into fourth.

A few interesting stats about my blog and visitors:

Number of posts published: 373

Visitors from: 150 countries

Followers: 89

Total Views: 42,172

Unique Visitors: 18,258

Newest Country Visitor: Afghanistan (Jan 2, 2012)

Last New Visitor: France (Jan 8, 2012 - today)

Top 10 referral sites to my blog:

1. blogger.com

2. rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com

3. stampboards.com

4. postcrossing.com

5. facebook.com

6. myphilately.com

7. stampinformation.blogspot.com

8. letstalkstamps.blogspot.com

9. indiastampdetails.blogspot.com

10. translate.googleusercontent.com

Many thanks to all my blog readers and visitors who made this happen, and continue to visit often.

Postcard from Netherland - RMS Titanic advert

2012-01-07T17:37:00.003+05:30

Received this great postcard through Postcrossing.com, sent by user Esso71 (Esther), from Netherland.

The card design is an advertisement poster for RMS Titanic of White Star Line.

Receiving a Titanic related postcard in its 100th Anniversary year is something very special.

MS Cap San Diego - Hamburg - 50 years

2012-01-07T16:54:00.000+05:30

Thanks again to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for this envelope with special postmark to commemorate 50 years of the ship MS Cap San Diego.

The MS Cap San Diego was constructed by the Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, contract No. 785. The vessel is from bow to stern a Hamburg ship and was designed by the well known Hamburg marine architect Cäsar Pinnau. She was delivered on March 27th, 1962 to the fleet of the "Hamburg-Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft". She is the youngest of 6 sister ships, named "Cap San Antonio", "Cap San Augustin", "Cap San Lorenzo", "Cap San Marco" and "Cap San Nicolas".

With their sleek hulls and massive sterns, these ships resembled elegant yachts rather than freighters with a loading capacity of 10,300 tons.

Text Source: capsandiego.de

FGS Passau M1096 - Minesweeper

2012-01-07T16:34:00.000+05:30

Thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me this envelope with beautiful postmark of FGS Passau (M1096), a KULMBACH class (type 333) minesweeper commissioned in December 18, 1990. The postmark design shows FGS (Federal German Ship) Passau passing Kiel canal.

Minesweeper: A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.

Galley and Galleon

2012-01-04T21:39:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: June 28, 2002
Scott #: 418

A colorful miniature sheet showing design of a Galley and a Galleon.

Galley: A galley is a type of ship propelled by rowers that originated in the Mediterranean region and was used for warfare, trade and piracy from the first millennium BC. Galleys dominated naval warfare in the Mediterranean Sea from the 8th century BC until development of advanced sailing warships in the 16th century.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire galleys formed the mainstay of the Byzantine navy and other navies of successors of the Roman Empire, as well as new Muslim navies. Medieval Mediterranean states, notably the Italian maritime republics, including Venice, Pisa, and Genoa, used galleys until the ocean-going man-of-war made them obsolete. The Battle of Lepanto was one of the largest naval battles in which galleys played the principal part.

Galleys were in common use until the introduction of broadside sailing ships of war into the Mediterranean in the 17th Century, but continued to be applied in minor roles until steam propulsion.

Galleon: A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.

The galleon was powered entirely by wind, using sails carried on three or four masts, with a lateen sail continuing to be used on the last (usually third and fourth) masts. They were used in both military and trade applications, most famously in the Spanish treasure fleet, and the Manila Galleons.

The galleon continued to be used into the 18th century, by which time purpose-built vessels such as the fluyt, the brig and the full rigged ship, both as a trading vessel and ship of the line, rendered it obsolete for trade and warfare respectively.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Indian Navy Official Film 2011 President's Fleet Review

2011-12-26T18:12:00.003+05:30

This publicity film was released by the Indian Navy as part of the Presidential Fleet Review 2011.

The Punjab Regiment - 250 Years - Galley Insignia

2011-12-25T13:56:00.001+05:30

Date of Issue: October 12, 2011

The Punjab Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The first battalions were raised between 1761 and 1798. The Regiment has the proud privilege of earning 35 pre-independence battle honors and 14 post-independence battle honors besides eight COAS unit citations and 13 Army Commander Unit citations.

The Regiment insignia is a Galley, an ancient Greek or Roman warship. It is perhaps the only Infantry Regiment with an insignia of a naval vessel in the world.

Maritime Heritage of Tamilnadu - Rock Painting at Keelvalai

2011-12-25T10:49:00.001+05:30

Date of Issue: October 8, 2011

Special Cover issued during SIPEX 2011 - Philately exhibition organized by SIPA - South India Philatelists' Association, Chennai.

The cover design shows the rock art / paintings at Keelvalai in Villupuram District of Tamilnadu, a South Indian state. The paintings, people on a small boat with pole dates back to 1000 - 500 B.C. and drawn using red ochre. Even though these sites have been known by archaeologists for more than twenty years, very little has been done so far to preserve the art forms that are usually near granite quarrying sites.

Fridtjof Nansen - 150th Birth Anniversary

2011-11-23T18:13:00.000+05:30

Deutsche Post came out with a special postmark to celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen (1861 - 1930) - a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a record northern latitude of 86°14′ during his North Pole expedition of 1893–96. Although he retired from exploration after his return to Norway, his techniques of polar travel and his innovations in equipment and clothing influenced a generation of subsequent Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

The ship in the postmark is the 'Fram' - a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912. It was designed and built by the Norwegian shipwright Colin Archer for Fridtjof Nansen's 1893 Arctic expedition in which Fram was supposed to freeze into the Arctic ice sheet and float with it over the North Pole.

Fram is said to have sailed farther north (85°57'N) and farther south (78°41'S) than any other wooden ship. Fram is currently preserved at the Fram Museum in Oslo, Norway.

Many thanks to dear Friend, Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me an envelope with this memorable postmark.

Text Source: Wikipedia

The Long Leg (1935) - by Edward Hopper

2011-11-14T15:20:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: August 24, 2011

Edward Hopper (1882 – 1967) was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching. In both his urban and rural scenes, his spare and finely calculated renderings reflected his personal vision of modern American life.

The Long Leg (1935) - Few American artists are as popular or influential as Edward Hopper, whose beautiful, sunlit painting, The Long Leg, is the tenth entry in the American Treasures series. The work's title refers to sailing; a leg is one part of an alternating, zigzagging series of short and long tacks.

This painting shows Hopper's characteristic use of light to insulate objects, and reflects his love of the sea as well as his interest in architecture. The lighthouse in the painting is Long Point Light, at Provincetown. The boat is a "Knockabout" sloop, a type of craft commonly used for sailing, cruising, and fishing.

Thanks to friend, Chris Schofield, Canada for sending me this stamp on envelope.

Text Source: Wikipedia, USPS.com

SS Salier - special postmark

2011-11-13T17:09:00.000+05:30

Displayed here is a special postmark issued for 125 years of German Naval and Marine Post, showing SS Salier, built in 1875 by Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Co.

On a voyage from Bremen to La Plata with passengers, SS Salier left Corunnna on the afternoon of December 7th, 1896, in rough weather. In the early hours of the 8th, in very heavy seas, the ship ran on to the Corona Reefs, Arosa Bay, and was wrecked with the loss of 281 lives, including Capt. Wempe.

Thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me this cover.

Text Source: wrecksite.eu

Card from Germany - Passat

2011-11-13T16:21:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: 02-06-2005

Passat - a German four-masted steel barque and one of the Flying P-Liners, the famous sailing ships of the German shipping company F. Laeisz. The name "Passat" means trade wind in German. She is one of the last surviving windjammers (A windjammer is the ultimate type of large sailing ship with an iron or for the most part steel hull, built to carry cargo in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Windjammers were the grandest of merchant sailing ships, with between three and five large masts and square sails, giving them a characteristic profile.

The windjammers were cargo ships designed for ultra-long voyages. They usually carried bulk cargo, such as lumber, guano, grain or ore from one continent to another, usually following the prevailing winds and circumnavigating the globe during their voyages. Several of these ships are still in existence — either as school ships, museum ships or restaurant ships.)

Thanks to Mechthild Heiduk, Germany for sending me this postcard.

Text source: Wikipedia

Commissioning of INS Shakti (A57)

2011-10-31T17:59:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: October 01, 2011

A Special Cover commemorating Commissioning of INS Shakti was issued by Andhra Pradesh Circle of India Post.

INS Shakti (A57) - a Deepak Class Replenishment Fleet Tanker built by Fincantieri, Italy, can carry 15,000 tonnes of different varieties of fuel for ships and aircraft and 500 tonnes of dry cargo, including ammunition and provisions for the fleet to take up multiple ship replenishment operations simultaneously. It also has workshop facilities to provide frontline support to fleet ships and can operate heavy helicopters.

It is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors an electronic warfare suite, most of it being indigenous. It was designed to operate as a command platform, according to the Navy.

Commanding Officer of the ship Capt. Ravi Malhotra read out the ‘Commissioning Warrant' and the naval ensign was hoisted on board for the first time and breaking the commissioning pennant as the National Anthem was played, marked the formal commissioning of the ship.

Text Source: The Hindu - October 2, 2011

Australia 1999 James Craig - Aerogramme

2011-10-17T12:28:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: March 19, 1999

Aerogramme issued by Australia with World Stamp Expo 99 Logo. Many thanks to my friend, Vera Radnell for mailing me this wonderful postal stationery.

The ship depicted is the James Craig, a three-masted iron-hulled barque built in 1874 in Sunderland, England, by Bartram, Haswell, & Co., she was originally named Clan Macleod. She was employed carrying cargo around the world, and rounded Cape Horn 23 times in 26 years. In 1900 she was acquired by Mr J J Craig, renamed James Craig in 1905, and began to operate between New Zealand and Australia until 1911. In 1932 she was sunk by fishermen who blasted a 3-metre hole in her stern.

Restoration of James Craig began in 1972, when volunteers from the 'Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum' (now the Sydney Heritage Fleet) refloated her and towed her to Hobart for initial repairs. Brought back to Sydney under tow in 1981, her hull was placed on a submersible pontoon to allow work on the hull restoration to proceed. Over a number of years the vessel was restored, repaired by both paid craftspeople and volunteers and relaunched in 1997. In 2001 restoration work was completed and she was able to set sail.

James Craig is currently berthed at Wharf 7 of Darling Harbor, near the Australian National Maritime Museum. She is open to the public, and takes passengers out sailing on Sydney Harbor and beyond. She is crewed and maintained by volunteers from the Sydney Heritage Fleet. The cost of maintaining her is approaching $1 million a year and the ship relies on generating income from visitors alongside, charters, events, and regular fortnightly day-sails with up to 80 passengers.

Source: Wikipedia

Bluenose II postcard from Canada

2011-10-13T20:54:00.000+05:30

My dear friend Laura sent me this postcard from Halifax. She knows Bluenose is my favorite, in any form, be it stamp, postcard, etc.,

The postcard says it all, so no description needed I guess.

Birth Centenary: Vice Admiral R.D. Katari (1911 - 2011)

2011-10-10T16:58:00.001+05:30

Date of Issue: October 08, 2011

A privately issued Special Cover by Naval Philatelic Society, India to commemorate birth centenary of Vice Admiral Ram Dass Katari (1911 - 1983), the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

He was born on October 08, 1911 at Chengalpattu, in Tamilnadu and so the postmark for the Special Cover was obtained at Chengalpattu, dated Oct 08, 2011.

He assumed charge as the Chief of the Naval Staff, on April 22, 1958. During his tenure as the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Indian Navy saw a consolidation of its acquisitions, planned future growth and enhanced its training and operational effectiveness.

The operational effectiveness was amply demonstrated in the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese in December 1961. India's first aircraft-carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned during his tenure. He retired as CNS in April 1962 and two years later he was appointed as India's Ambassador to Burma, where he served with distinction for over five years.

Click here to read his biography in detail at Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia

Special Cover: INS Hansa Golden Jubilee (1961 - 2011)

2011-10-10T16:27:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: September 05, 2011

The Goa and Maharashtra Circle of India Post issued a Special Cover to commemorate 50 golden years of service to the nation by INS Hansa - India's Premier Naval Air Station, now located near Dabolim, in Goa.

INS Hansa was commissioned on September 05, 1961 at Sulur, near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It was initially co-located with the Sulur Air Force Base of the Indian Air Force. It was initially home to INAS 551 squadron, operating de Havilland Vampire aircraft, as well as training establishments for Hawker Sea Hawk and Breguet Alizé aircraft.

After the liberation of Goa from Portuguese occupation, Dabolim airfield was transferred to the Indian Navy. INS Hansa was then moved to Dabolim on June 18, 1964.

Over 2000 naval personnel and 1000 civilians are employed at INS Hansa. It is home to 8 Indian Naval Air Squadrons (INAS).

Among the units based here are:

INAS 300, operating BAe Sea Harrier fighter aircraft
INAS 303, operating Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters
INAS 310,operating Dornier Do 228 aircraft in electronic warfare roles
INAS 315, operating the Il-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft
INAS 321, operating HAL Chetak helicopters for search and rescue
INAS 551, operating HAL HJT-16 Kiran jet trainers
INAS 552, operating Harrier T-60 trainers

The Crest of INS Hansa depicts Hamsa (from Sanskrit हंस haṃsa) is an aquatic bird, often considered to be a goose or sometimes a swan. The cachet design shows various air crafts of the Indian Navy.

Click here to read more interesting information about INS Hansa.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Latvian Ports - Freeport of Riga

2011-09-15T21:00:00.001+05:30

Date of Issue: September 02, 2011
Designer: Ģirts Grīva

Received with thanks, this newly issued stamp of Latvia, on envelope from my blog reader/follower, Oleg Skleinov from Riga, Latvia.

The Freeport of Riga is located on the mouth of the River Daugava, in Riga, the Capital and largest city of Latvia. The Daugava River was used for international trade between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea as early as the 5th century. The Freeport of Riga facilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Sea ferries currently connect Riga to Stockholm and Lübeck, operated respectively by Tallink and DFDS Tor Line. The Latvian-flagged ferries MS Romantika and MS Silja Festival are located in the Riga Passenger Terminal.*

The stamp design shows Freeport of Riga during 18th Century with sail ships and present day scene showing bulk carriers and modern passenger ferry.

Text Source: Wikipedia, www.rop.lv

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TSS Earnslaw - card from New Zealand

2011-09-12T17:07:00.001+05:30

Postcard from New Zealand received through postcrossing.com, showing TSS Earnslaw at Queenstown, New Zealand.

The TSS Earnslaw is a 1912 Edwardian vintage twin screw steamer plying the waters of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Central Otago, and the only remaining passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere. As of 2011, the Earnslaw is still in routine operation carrying tourist passengers across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm, a tourism operation with farm tours, horse treks, heritage tours, barbecue lunches and evening dining at the historic Colonel's Homestead.

The Earnslaw is the only working coal-fired steamship on the Lloyd's Register.

The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta, Turku, Aug 26 - 28, special postmark

2011-09-10T18:26:00.000+05:30

To mark Turku's European Capital of Culture year, Sail Training International (STI) and the City of Turku organized the Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta on the Baltic Sea. Members of international non-profit organisation STI comprise international sail training organisations and other instances that maintain vessels and arrange sail training.

An impressive fleet of beautiful sailing ships including the giants of the sea Kruzenshtern (Russia, 113 m), Mir (Russia, 109 m) and Dar Mlodziezy (Poland, 109 m) participated.

The event will be a highlight of the Capital of Culture year. The 2011 event is launched in Klaipeda, Lithuania, where the vessels began their voyage to Turku. The journey from Finland continued to the the final port of the race in Gdynia, Poland.

The Tall Ships Races event has previously been hosted by Turku in 1996, 2003 and 2009, attracting a satisfied audience of hundreds of thousands from around the country.

Text Source: tallships2011.fi

Many thanks to my friend, Edina at MyPhilately.com for arranging this cover to my growing collection of postmarks.

There are two stamps on the envelope. First stamp shows the Training Ship Suomen Joutsen, issued in 1972. The second stamp was issued in 2010.

Centenary of Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911 - 2011

2011-09-10T16:52:00.001+05:30

Date of Issue: August 02, 2011

This is the first in a four-year program of stamps celebrating the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). The series will be made up of five stamps issued each year until 2014 using the overall themes of departure and journey, arrival and exploration, science and triumphant return.

The initial five stamp strip shows the key moments in the departure of the AAE from Hobart and the journey to the Antarctic.

The SY Aurora (SY - Steam Yacht) carried the AAE to and from Hobart. The stamp photograph was taken by expeditioner Xavier Mertz and the map in the stamp shows the AAE's route.

Captain John King Davis, Captain of the SY Aurora, and second-in-command of the expedition.

The SY Aurora on Antarctic voyage. The stamp photograph was taken by expeditioner Andrew Watson and the postmark image is taken from a message sent by Bob Hodger on the SY Aurora.

Landing at Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by the Aurora's Second Officer, Percy Gray.. The background image, shows the Aurora off Macquarie Island and was taken by expeditioner Frank Hurley.

Birdlife on Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by expeditioner Harold Hamilton.

The background landscape image used across the five stamps was taken by expeditioner Leslie Blake and is held in the Home & Away Collection in the SLNSW.

Text Source: auspost.com.au

Many thanks to my dear friend, Vera Radnell for these wonderful stamps on envelope too.

Commissioning of INS Satpura (F48) - Special Cover

2011-09-06T13:46:00.000+05:30

Date of Issue: August 20, 2011

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma released a special cover for Commissioning INS Satpura during the ceremony held at Mumbai on August 20, 2011.

The cachet shows INS Satpura in action and the special postmark shows the Crest (design showing "Khandas" - Indian double-edge straight sword - emerging from the Satpura hill ranges. The word "Khanda" has its origin in the word "Khand" meaning "to break, divide, cut, and destroy.") and motto (Resolve, Pride, Courage).

INS Satpura is the latest stealth frigate of Indian Navy, with pennant number F48, second ship of the Shivalik Class Frigates built by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.