A souvenir sheet consists of one stamp, and there is also a First Day Cover (FDC). Motif on stamp: motor cargo ship “Elhawi Star”, sunken in 1982 in front of the Rijeka harbour Motif of the souvenir sheet: an illustration of the cargo steamer “Vis”, sunken in 1946 alongside east coast of Istria, close to the entrance to Plomin Bay
Adriatic Sea is a synonym for developed tourism, cleanliness and beauty of the natural environment, gorgeous beaches and relaxed atmosphere. However, rare are those who know that the Adriatic aquatorium can offer also other experiences like stranded ships, submarines and various other vessels. Or – as pointed out in a promotional leaflet for submarine diving: „The encounters with ship wrecks are unique experiences since each ship has its own history. Each shipwreck is a tragedy of its own; each story is a memorial to someone’s braveness or superficiality... The idyll of submarine silence and the beauty of marine flowers – anyone agrees who has at least once touched the depths of the Adriatic - are an indescribable event. Since, by throwing an inquisitive look from the sea surface, the one who has never dived under it, can surely not sense the wonders offered by the company of shoals of fishes and thousands of plant sorts hidden under the wrecks of sunken galleons.“ Though there is no final register of wracked ships in the Adriatic, it is known that the Adriatic is the richest sea in the world as concerns wrecks. According to some data there are about 15.000 wrecks in the Adriatic. To the unique experience of searching the submarine world contribute also submarine museums of amphoras. This kind of tourism offers not only the excitement an adventure but also an active holiday and learning about the culture and history of neither more nor less than a new destination situated under the sea surface. Croatia has by now always mainly relied on mass, costal, i.e. bathing tourism on which it has based also its pretty strong identity of a tourist country. However, besides from that, Croatia disposes of an undoubted richness in other resources that can be exploited in tourist offer. The greatest treasure is probably the material and non-material culture encompassing not only historic remnants of once built inheritance and modern artistic expressions but also a style of the past and also today’s life in an area. In this regard it is potentially highly relevant in the development of cultural tourism which is in our country - according to the data by the World Tourism Organisation - among the fastest growing tourism branches. Modern tourists are characterised by individuality, relatively high educational level, higher purchasing power, searching for experience, active holiday and self-education as well as by the wish to discover unknown authenticities which a destination has to offer. In this respect having a different offer than other countries is an advantage in today’s very competitive tourist market and an expansion of offer to submarine localities surely makes s specific difference. Among subtypes of special interest culture tourism is archaeology tourism. It is generally defined as an alternative type of cultural tourism with the goal to promote the passion for historic archaeology, i.e. protection of historic localities. Digging for the past gives a modern tourist a unique opportunity to discover a destination and greatly satisfies his need for an active holiday, self-education, authenticity and individual experience. Thus is a visitor not only a common tourist but also an "apprentice“of historic sciences. «Archaeology is search for facts… not truth. If you want to search for truth, the lectures by Dr. Tyree are at the end of the hall», used to say Indiana Jones. Actually, each new found material proof presents a moment which can change the history and our knowledge about it. This makes archaeological tourism an especially exciting activity and a unique experience. Indiana Jones has entered the kingdom of the crystal skull, and we have perhaps got an opportunity to dive into the rich history of the Adriatic aquatorium and discover a completely new world of sunken but still alive ships!
http://www.posta.hr/main.aspx?id=193&idmarke=2259
The vessel in the margin on the M.S. is the VIS in an upright position.
Built as a cargo vessel under yard No 342 by Dunlop, Bremner & Co. at the Inch Yard at Port Glasgow for Dampskibs I/S “Garonne” (Fearnley & Eger), Christiania (Oslo), Norway.
05 April 1921 launched as the RENTERIA.
Tonnage 1,872 gross, 940 net, 3,022 dwt. Dim. 79.42 x 12.57m.
One triple expansion 3 cyl. steam engine, manufactured by the shipsbuilder, 182 nhp, one screw, speed 8 knots.
May 1921 completed.
1934 Sold to Brodarsko Akc. Drustvo “Oceania”, Susak, Yugoslavia and renamed VIS.
13 February 1946 struck a mine off the Dalmatian coast, Yugoslavia and sank in position 45 07N 14 13E, off Cape Masnjak, with the loss of 3 crew.
Croatia 2011 10kn sgMS ?, scott?
Sources: Fearnley & Eger 1869-1969, World Ship Society. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz