N.R.P. Almirante Gago Coutinho, Hydrographic Ship

Date of Issue: November 25, 2005
Scott #: 2783

This is one of the four stamps issued in the series - Modernization of the Portuguese Navy.

The ship depicted in the stamp is N.R.P. Almirante Gago Coutinho, a hydrograhpic ship (hydrography - also includes oceanography and limnology. Hydrography refers to measuring and studying physical characteristics of waters such as tides, current, waves, ocean bed with particular emphasis on those marine geographical features that pose a hazard to navigation such as rocks, shoals, reefs and other features that obstruct ship passage, in order to provide safe navigation of vessels in navigable waters).

The NRP "Almirante Gago Coutinho" was part of a fleet of 10 vessels of Portuguese Navy for surveillance and detection of anti-submarines.