Mikhail Lomonosov

[shipstamps]

In 1966 an International Oceanography Congress was held in Moscow and this was commemorated by a single 6k. stamp. The centre of the design is symbolic but on each side of this are two interesting items, an oceanography research ship on the right, Mikhail Lomonosov, and on the left the strangest observation tower yet built, Cousteau's Buoy. Russia has the largest fleet of oceanographic research vessels in the world and I would not venture to identify the particular ship on the stamp. Cousteau's Buoy is unique. It was built by the French Office of Submarine Research for Commandant Jacques Cousteau, and is a long tubular column, 230 ft. in length, floating vertically in the sea. On top of the tube, 50 ft. above sea level, are the living quarters for the crew of four scientists, consisting of four small rooms. This is the part of the device seen on the stamp.
Sea Breezes 5/71 SG3243

[aukepalmhof]

The writer of the article on the stamp, is not sure which research vessel is depict, while Stanley Gibbons Collect Ships on Stamps give she is the MIKHAIL LOMONOSOV.
By comparing the ship on the stamp with a photo of the ship, most probably the MIKHAIL LOMONOSOV is shown on the stamp.

Built as a cargo vessel one of the Kolomna type under yard 161/959 by Neptun VEB shipyard in Rostock, East Germany for the Russian Government.
During construction converted in a research vessel.
June 1957 launched as the MIKHAIL LOMONOSOV.
Tonnage 3,897 grt, 1,194 net, 2,425 dwt., dim. 102.4 x 14.0 x 6.0m. (draught), length bpp. 102.4m.
Powered by 1 triple expansion reciprocating engine plus a low pressure turbine manufactured by Karl Liebknecht, 2,400 shp, one shaft, speed 11.5 knots.
Range by full speed, 11,000 miles.
Fitted out with 17 laboratories.
Crew 80 and 55 scientists and technicians.
30 August 1957 completed. Homeport Sevastopol.

Managed by the Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Academy of Sciences in Ukrainian SSR at Sevastopol.
She was mostly used in the Atlantic Ocean, during her 5th expedition in 1959 in the Atlantic she investigated in detail an equatorial counter-current below the water surface, which is now known as the Lomonosov counter-current.
1999 Was she renamed in VETERAN MORYA.
Arrived by the Maruti Corporation, Alang, India for scrapping, work commenced on 23 January 1999.

Russia 1966 6k sg3243, scott?

Source: Marine News. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz. Soviet Merchant Ships by Ambrose Greenway