Kublai Khan and his Fleet

Date of Issue: March 04, 2012

This miniature stamp sheet of Mongolia shows the portrait of the Great Mongol Emperor of 12th Century, and the founder of Yuan Dynasty in China - Kublai Khan and a sailing warship of his period.

Kublai Khan twice attempted to invade Japan. It is believed that both attempts were thwarted by bad weather or a flaw in the design of ships that were based on river boats without keels, and his fleets were destroyed. The first attempt took place in year 1274, with a fleet of 900 ships. After the first Mongol attack on Japan, Japanese pirates known as Wokou raided Korea, but Mongol-Korean forces pushed them back, and the Wokou pirates decreased their activity due to the increased military preparedness of the Goryeo and the Kamakura. In 1293 the Yuan navy captured 100 Japanese people from Okinawa.

The second invasion occurred in year 1281 when Mongols sent two separate forces; 900 ships containing 40,000 Korean, Chinese, and Mongol troops were sent from Masan, while a force of 100,000 sailed from southern China in 3,500 ships, each close to 240 feet (73 m) long.

Kublai Khan also invaded Đại Việt (Vietnam) three times.

Three expeditions against Burma, in 1277, 1283 and 1287, brought the Mongol forces to the Irrawaddy Delta, whereupon they captured Bagan, the capital of the Pagan Kingdom in Burma, and established their government.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Sacred Mayan Journey - Mayan Canoe

Date of Issue: December 21, 2012

Sacred Mayan Journey - The project of the Sacred Mayan Journey was founded with the purpose of recovering one of the most significant traditions of the ancient Mayan people of the region: the ritual journey of the Cozumel Channel to worship the Ix Chel. Goddess. This event began in 2007 to revive interest in the Mayan culture and strengthen the cultural identity of people of the area.

The Sacred Mayan Journey involves approximately 50 kilometers (total return), representing 6 to 7 hours of free paddling each way in the Cozumel Channel, which is 420 meters deep with a current from south to north 2 to 4 knots, adding to the crossing a level of risk and great physical effort for the rowers.

The set of three stamps produce a single design depicting traditional canoe used by the Mayan people of southeastern Mexico and parts of Central America.

Thanks to friend, Cecy Osuna from Hermosillo, Mexico for sending me the mint set of stamps and stamps on envelope.

Text Source: cozumel.travel

I.N.S. Viraat - 25 Years of Service - 1987 - 2012

Issue Date: May 12, 2012

Department of Posts, India - Maharashtra and Goa Circle issued a special cover on May 12, 2012 to commemorate 25 glorious years of service to the nation by I.N.S. Viraat.

I.N.S. Viraat (R22):  is a Centaur class aircraft carrier in service with the Indian Navy. INS Viraat is the flagship of the Indian Navy, the oldest carrier in service and one of two aircraft carriers based in the Indian Ocean Region. She is the only aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, which operates Sea Harrier fighter jets, Sea King Helicopters, Kamov Helicopters, and Chetak Helicopters.

Motto: Jalameva Yasya, Balameva Tasya' (Sanskrit: "He who rules over the seas is all powerful")

Crest: The crest depicts an eagle with its air power and arrows depicting all-round attack capability.

I.N.S. Viraat was formerly H.M.S. Hermes, was in service with the Royal Navy from 1959 until 1984, and she served as the flagship of the British forces during the 1982 Falklands War. After being sold to India in 1986, the vessel was recommissioned in May 1987 and remains in service with the Indian Navy as the INS Viraat.

Many thanks to my friend, Amit Surana in Mumbai for helping me to get this cover for my collection.

Source: Wikipedia, indiannavy.nic.in

Postmark: SSS Gorch Fock, Kiel - Germany

Date of Special Postmark: December 16, 2012

Philatelists Club of Kiel brought out special postmark for Christmas, depicting SSS Gorch Fock, and posted on board. Also seen are Christmas Tree and Stars.

Thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for this cover with beautiful postmarks.

Postmark: 25 years of partnership of Dresden & Hamburg

A registered cover sent by my German friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer with special postmark issued by Deutsche Post to commemorate 25 years of cooperation/partnership between two German cities, Dresden (the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border) and Hamburg (officially Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, is the second largest city in Germany, the thirteenth largest German state, and the sixth largest city in the European Union).

The postmark depicts a steamer ferry and the stamp on right side of envelope is issued in 2011 for 175th Anniv. of Saxon Steamship Company, which was already discussed here in my blog. Click here to read the earlier post.

Special Cover - Kachchhpex 2005 - Dredgers

Date of Issue: November 30, 2005

A special cover was issued during Kachchhpex - Kachchh District-level Philatelic Exhibition, the cover sponsored by Jaisu Shipping Company P. Ltd. Kandla Port.

The cover illustration mentions "Role of Shipping in growth of Indian Economy" and depicts two of the dredgers from the fleet of Jaisu Shipping Company.

Dredger:  A dredger (or “dredge” as is the general usage in the Americas) is any device, machine, or vessel that is used to excavate and remove material from the bottom of a body of water. For example, a scoop attached to the end of a rope or pole by which a man can draw sediments up from the bottom of a pond is a dredger. Developing this idea further, a motorized crane equipped with a drag bucket or clamshell (grabber) that is used to scoop material from the bottom of a body of water is also a dredger. The crane could be located on the bank, or perhaps mounted on a barge. If the crane is mounted on a barge, the entire vessel is referred to as a dredger.

Kamal XXV:  Formerly Kutch Vallabh, built in 1975 at Mazagon Dock Yard, Mumbai and rebuilt in 1998 is a type of Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger - (TSHD) that trails its suction pipe when working, and loads the dredge spoil into one or more hoppers in the vessel. When the hoppers are full, the TSHD sails to a disposal area and either dumps the material through doors in the hull or pumps the material out of the hoppers. Some dredges also self-offload using drag buckets and conveyors.

Kamal XXVI:  Built in 1989 is a type of Rock Bucket Ladder Dredger - A bucket dredger is equipped with a bucket dredge, which is a device that picks up sediment by mechanical means, often with many circulating buckets attached to a wheel or chain. Some bucket dredgers and grab dredgers are powerful enough to rip out coral to make a shipping channel through coral reefs.

Source: Wikipedia, www.jaisu.in