Kolkata Port Trust

Date of Issue: October 17, 2003

This cover was recent addition to my collection.

The cover was issued on occasion of 133 years of the Kolkata Port Trust, in 2003. (1870 - 2003). The concept for this special cover was by Mr. Dipok Dey, and designed by Mr. Sankhajit Jana.

Port of Kolkata:  The Port of Kolkata is a riverine port in the city of Kolkata, India. It is the oldest operating port in India, having originally been constructed by the British East India Company, after the company received trading rights from the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb.

Following the shift of power from the company to the British crown, a port commission was set up in 1870. Though the port was conceived to be a commercial port and gateway of eastern India, the port played a very important role in the Second World War. It was bombed twice by the Japanese forces. After the independence, the Commissioners for the Port of Kolkata was in responsibility of the port till January 1975 when Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, came into force.

The Port has two distinct dock systems - Kolkata Docks at Kolkata and a deep water dock at Haldia Dock Complex, Haldia.

In the 19th century, Kolkata Port was the premier port in British India. After independence its importance decreased because of factors including the Partition of Bengal (1947), reduction in size of the port hinterland and economic stagnation in eastern India. In the 21st century due to the east Indian economic recovery and infrastructure improvements, the port grew swiftly to become the nation's third largest container port. It was one of India's fastest growing ports in 2004-05.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Port of Tianjin, Binhai Area, China

Date of Issue: October 21, 2011

China Philatelic National Corporation issued a set of three stamps and a souvenir sheet (shown above), wherein, the stamp sheet shows a container ship at terminal in the Port of Tianjin / Tianjin Gang, with satellite view of the port on the background image. It is one big stamp sheet measuring 7.5 x 14.8 cm, the shape of stamp is unusual and with one elliptical perforation at the middle of the perforation in the left and right side of the stamp.

Port of Tianjin:  Formerly known as the Port of Tanggu, is the largest port in Northern China and the main maritime gateway to Beijing. It is located on the western shore of the Bohai Bay, centered on the estuary of the Haihe River. It is the largest man-made port in mainland China, and one of the largest in the world. The port trades with more than 600 ports in 180 countries and territories around the world. It is served by over 115 regular container lines run by 60 liner companies, including all the top 20 liners.

The port is part of the Binhai New Area district of Tianjin Municipality, the main special economic zone of Northern China. The Port of Tianjin is at the core of the ambitious development program of the Binhai New Area.

Many thanks to my friend in Facebook, Deng Yong Chun from Beijing, China for sending this stamp sheet on envelope.

Text Source: Wikipedia.

Latvian Ports - Freeport of Riga

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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Al Rayyan - LNG Tanker

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Date of Issue: February 24, 1997
Scott #: 896

This stamp was issued on the occasion of opening of Port of Ras Laffan in Qatar.

The LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tanker depicted in this stamp is AL Rayyan of K Line, probably named after a gas field in Qatar.

Normally, these type of LNG carriers are as much as the size of three football fields.

The Ras Laffan Port is one of the world's largest LNG export facility. The Port commenced operations in September 1996. On Sunday, March 22, 2009, the Port witnessed the first instant whereby all the four LNG berths were occupied simultaneously. This scene is only possible in Ras Laffan due to having the highest number of LNG berths globally.

Source: shipstamps.co.uk and raslaffan.co.qa

Port of Haifa, Israel

Date of Issue: September 28, 1980
Scott #: 756

This MS was issued to commemorate the National Stamp Exhibition held at Haifa during September 28 to October 07, 1980.

The sheet shows an artist's impression of the Port of Haifa and Mount Carmel during the 17th century.

The Port of Haifa is the largest of Israel's three major international seaports, which include the Port of Ashdod, and the Port of Eilat. It has a natural deep water harbor which operates all year long, and serves both passenger and cargo ships.

The port served as a gateway for thousands of immigrants to Israel after the Second World War.

The port has been the scene of two maritime incidents; one, the Patria disaster, killing 267, while the other, the loss of the Shelly, killing two people.

The picture above shows the aerial view of present day Port of Haifa.

Port Royal, Jamaica

Date of Issue: 1921 - 23
Scott#: 95

The stamp shows the view of busy Port Royal during 1853.


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Port Royal was the center of shipping commerce in Jamaica in the 17th century. During this time, it gained a reputation as both the "richest and wickedest city in the world". It was notorious for its gaudy displays of wealth and loose morals, and was a popular place for pirates and privateers to bring and spend their treasure. During the 17th century, the British actively encouraged and even paid buccaneers based at Port Royal to attack Spanish and French shipping.

Pirates from around the world congregated at Port Royal coming from waters as far away as Madagascar on the far side of Africa. Several 17th and early 18th century pirate ships are sunk within the harbor and being carefully harvested under controlled conditions by different teams of archaeologists. Other "digs" are staked out along various quarters and streets by different teams.

Port of Hong Kong - Past and Present

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Date of Issue: January 12, 1982

The theme of this special stamp issue is illustrated in the four stamps issued by scenes of bygone years and one of more modern times.

Hong Kong was a regular port of call for vessels of many flags even before Captain Charles Elliot took formal possession of the island early in 1841.

For over a century, the port of Hong Kong was principally engaged in entrepot activities - a warehouse for other peoples' products. After the Second World War, this changed and Hong Kong has now become one of the world's largest exporters.

The Port of Hong Kong, located by the South China Sea, is a deepwater seaport dominated by trade in containerised manufactured products, and to a lesser extent raw materials and passengers. A key factor in the economic development of Hong Kong, the natural shelter and deep waters of Victoria Harbour provide ideal conditions for berthing and handling all types of vessels. It is one of the busiest ports in the world, in the three categories of shipping movements, cargo handled and passengers carried


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Designer: Mr. Redge Solley
Printer: Questa Colour Security Printers Ltd.
Process: Lithographic
Denominations: 20c, $1, $1.30, $2.00

Scott: A75 380-383

125 Years of Mumbai Port Trust

Mumbai Port - Known as the 'Gateway of India' or the 'Nations Window to the outside World' - has made a significant contribution to the nation's trade and commerce.

The port has now 50 berths in three docks (Prince's Dock, Victoria Dock, and Indira Dock [previously known as Alexandra dock]) for handling general cargo and containers and 6 berths for liquid cargo at Jawahar Dweep and Pir Pau.

Date of Issue: June 26, 1999
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Technical Description
Stamp, FDC, and Cancellation Design: Mumbai Port Trust
Printer: India Security Press, Nashik
Process: Photogravure
Stamps Printed: 0.7 million
Denomination: 300p (Rs. 3)