Gullfoss

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shipstamps
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Gullfoss

Post by shipstamps » Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:50 am

Iceland issued two stamps in the same design to mark the 175th anniversary of the granting of a municipal charter to the city of Reykjavik. These stamps are of the values 2.50 kronur and 4.50 kronur and the common design offers a modern view of Reykjavik harbour from a drawing by Kaukur Halldorsson. Passing out through the harbour mouth is the motorship Gullfoss, owned by the Icelandic Steamship Company of Reykjavik (Eimskipaffag Islands H /F). completed at the yard of Burmeister and Wain, Copenhagen in May 1950.
On dimensions 355 ft. x 47 ft. 9 in. x 17 ft. 9 in. on a gross tonnage of 3,858 (2,160 net), she is Iceland's largest vessel, with accommodation for 218 passengers. She is specially strengthened for navigation in ice and is powered by a single-acting 2-stroke, 12-cylinder oil engine manufactured by the builders producing a speed of 17 knots. Her round service is Reykjavik—Leith Copenhagen.
Damaged by fire 1963. Sold 1974 to Orri Naval Lines, Cyprus. Renamed MECCA.
SG384/5,408.
Sea Breezes 2/62, 4/64
Attachments
Gullfoss.jpg
SG384
SG384
SG385
SG385
SG408
SG408

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Gullfoss

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:36 pm

Update:

The vessel depicts on these stamps shows us the GULLFOSS (II).
Built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard no 702.
08 December 1949 launched as the GULLFOSS (II) named after the waterfall Gullfoss.
Powered by a B&W diesel engine 4,000 bhp, speed 15 ½ knots.
May 1950 completed.

With 1,105 pilgrims on board who were returning from a trip to Mecca to Port Sudan, via Jeddah, and 76 crew members, the Saudi Arabian motor passenger vessel MECCA caught fire in three unoccupied first-class[ cabins immediately below the bridge, when only 17 miles out of Jeddah port at 11 p.m. on 18 December 1976.
All the passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the vessel, which then drifted aground on Ras Alsanda reef 14 miles south of Jeddah in lat. 21 20n, long. 39.06e.
The wrecked vessel then slipped off the reef and capsized and sank in lat. 21 18 30N, long. 39 06 00E during the morning of 20 December.

Source Modern Shipping Disasters 1963-1987 by Norman Hooke.
Iceland 1995 booklet sg?, Scott?
Attachments
1995 gullfoss.jpg

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