Postcard from Lithuania - Lithuanian Maritime History

Thanks to Lithuanian Postcrossing user myjoy63 / Eddie for this stamp sent on picture postcard.

This stamp issued in 17.07.2023, designed by A.S.Kazdailis.

The stamp features a wind rose (graphical charts that characterize the speed and direction of winds at a location) and a sable. A wind rose is a star-shaped figure whose rays indicate the direction of the wind. Usually, these are 32 geographical directions, to which sometimes the names of the winds of that area are listed.

Here is the front side of the postcard I received, depicting a bottle showpiece with tall ships race stamp, Baltic 2009 - which is already explained in this post - Click here

Text Source: Wopa-Plus.com
Click Here to see other picture postcards I have received.

Special Cover - 2023 - Launching of INS Vindhyagiri Under Project-17 A

Special Cover issued on 17.08.2023 at Kolkata. Cover illustration depicting Howrah Bridge in Kolkata and aerial view of Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, and digital image of INS Vindhyagiri.

Cancellation depicting logo of GRSE and words "Builders of 100+ Warships" and "Strengthening Nation's Maritime Security" in English and Hindi.

Launch of  Project-17A Stealth Frigate - INS Vindhyagiri, by Hon. President of India - Srimati Droupati Murmu.

INS Vindhyagiri is a Nilgiri Class (Project-17A) frigate of The Indian Navy. It was jointly built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai.  Named after the Vindhyagiri Hill in Karnataka, Vindhyagiri is the sixth ship of the P-17A Frigates, which are the advanced version of Shivalik-class frigates with enhanced stealth features, upgraded weapons and sensors and better platform management system on-board. Seen as demonstration of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence sector, this indigenously evolved stealth guided-missile frigate equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Click Here to see other special covers of Indian Navy.

Thanks to Mr. Kanishka Malik, Kolkata for helping me to add this special cover in my collection.

Postcard from China - Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP)

Received this postage-paid picture postcard today from Mr.Ling, depicting Hainan Free Trade Port. We can see two tugs moving a container ship to unload containers, and another container ship doing loading / unloading containers.

The Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP) is a special economic zone (SEZ) on the island of Hainan in China. 

The HFTP was established by the Hainan Free Trade Port Law, which was passed on June 10, 2021. The law's goal is to transform the island into a globally influential free trade port.

Hainan, an island roughly the size of Taiwan that has been dubbed China's Hawaii for its tropical scenery and beaches, is being transformed into a world-class free-trade hub.

Click Here to see other picture postcards received by me.

First Award for my Blog

Front and Reverse of the Silver-Bronze Medal

I have submitted my blog (shipthemegallery.blogspot.com) in Literature Class at the recently concluded Philately Exhibition - SIPA AMRITPEX, organized by SIPA - South India Philatelists's Association, Chennai, held at Olympia Tech Park, Guindy, Chennai during August 13-15, 2022; and was awarded Silver-Bronze medal. I am delighted to share the news with my blog readers.

I would like to thank SIPA and the Exhibition Committee team for this opporutnity.

 

President's Fleet Review 2022 - Visakhapatnam

FDC with Visakhapatnam Cancellation

Date of Issue: February 21, 2022

India Post issued a commemorative stamp of Rs.5.00 denomination on the occasion of President's Fleet Review held at Visakhapatnam.

President Ram Nath Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind conducted the Fleet Review off the Visakhapatnam coast in the Bay of Bengal. As many as 60 ships and 55 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft participated in the mega event.

As the Supreme Commander of our armed forces, every President of India reviews the Indian Naval Fleet once during their term.

The Fleet Review is aimed at assuring the country of the Indian Navy’s preparedness, high morale and discipline.

This is the 12th Fleet Review and the theme was ‘Indian Navy - 75 years in Service of the Nation’, commemorating the Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

After a 21-gun salute and ceremonial guard of honour, the President embarked on the Presidential Yacht, INS Sumitra - an indigenously built naval offshore patrol vessel. Received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Kovind sailed past 44 ships anchored in four columns in the Bay of Bengal and received the ceremonial salute from each of them.

The crew of each ship presented a salute with the traditional ‘Three Jais’, a symbolic act called “Man and Cheer Ship,” in a demonstration of the unconditional allegiance of Navy personnel to the country and the Supreme Commander.

Along with the ships, there was a Parade of Sails, comprising two Laser Bahia, six Enterprise Class and six Indian Naval Sailing Vessels Mhadei, Tarini, Bulbul, Hariyal, Kadalpura and Neelkanth.In addition to the naval warships, ships from the Indian Coast Guard, Shipping Corporation of India and Ministry of Environment Sciences also participated in the review.

Marine Commandos (Marcos) from the Special Operations unit INS Karna on the eastern seaboard, performed combat free-fall water jumps from the Para Dornier aircraft over a designated drop zone from a height of 6,000 feet.

The President also witnessed demonstrations in the form of a composite flypast by 55 aircraft including Chetaks, ALH, Sea Kings, KAMOVs, Dorniers, IL-38SD, P8I, Hawks and MiG 29K.

Info Courtesy: newindianexpress.com, onlinewiki.in

Special Cover - INS Ganga (F22) - Decommissioning - 2018

Date of Issue: March 21, 2018

India Post, Maharashtra & Goa Circle issued a special cover to commemorate Decommissioning of INS Ganga, which served the nation for 33 Glorious Years.

INS Ganga (F22) was a Godavari-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy. Built in Mumbai by Mazagon Dock Limited, she was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 30 December 1985. The ship completed her post-commissioning trials in a record time of three months and joined the Western Fleet in mid April 1986.  She was retired from active service on 28 May 2017, and was decommissioned on 22 March 2018.

The badge / emblem depicts River Ganges flowing through mountain ranges.

Info Courtesy: Wikipedia.com