A hundred years ago the second sledging team of the Denmark-Expedition looked from the north-eastern bend at the Greenlandic sea towards Svalbard and caught sight of what seemed to be land far out at sea. Up until World War 1, this mirage land was
persistently searched for, though without results, after which it became a Greenlandic myth. Not until just under 90 years later it was confirmed that there were some
unknown islands outside of Northeast Greenland, and in 1999 a Danish geologist succeeded in going ashore from a helicopter out of the German icebreaking research boat, ‘POLARSTERN’. The island proved to be made from large ice capes resting on a foundation of rocks and sand, but the specific location and size was not determined.
The mirage that became an island.
The Island was named 'Tubbiap Queqertaa'(Tobias' Island) from the Greenlandic sledge
driver on the Denmark-Expedition’s second sledging team and sealer, Tobias Gabrielsen
(1878 – 1945), who proved his skills among other things by leading the teams’ sledges safely over the foot of a sheer iceberg by the Mallemuk mountain, and taking it safe and sound to the town ‘Danmarkshavn’.
In 2000 the Forces of Greenland several times vainly tried to reach the island by helicopter in order to plant the country flag and to make further measurements. In the spring, a flight had to be cancelled due to bad weather conditions near the island, and a further try in late summer was cancelled few hours before the helicopter at sunrise was supposed to take off from the ship, because the admiral in ‘Grønnedal’ at night had
a hunch that cancelling would be necessary. The same day the helicopter made a forced landing on the ship due to a serious material error! However, on April 28 the following year a Twin Otter airplane from Air Greenland succeeded in landing on the snow and ice covered island bringing a researcher from each of the three large national geographical institutions – Greenland’s preliminary studies (ASIAQ), the Danish agency of maps and land registry (KMS) and Denmark’s and Greenland’s Geological Examinations (GEUS). During the very brief stay of the researcher, the islands’ geographical position (79º20´N, 15º48´W) and its size were very accurately determined, and furthermore geological samples were gathered. Most importantly of all, however, was that ’Tobias’ Island’ was symbolically taken into possession as a part of Greenland by the rising of a flag pole with the waving flags of Denmark and Greenland. ‘Tobias’ Island’ could now be drawn onto maps and charts with the proper position and the determined ownership.Two years were to pass before the island once again saw visitors, and this time by ship. Usually,
the whole region around ’Tobias’ Island’ is covered with the polar ice all year long, but
in September 2003, the icing situation was so favourable that the inspection boat ’TRITON’ could sail up to the area. ‘Triton’ landed a team that built a flag bastion with the waving flag of the union. After that, ‘Triton’ navigated the waters around the island and made determinations of depth and in this connection, the boat succeeded in reaching 81º10´N thus breaking the previous record of the expedition ship ‘GUSTAV HOLM from
1933.
Recently, ’Tobias Island’ has become a topic in the negotiations between Norway, Denmark and Greenland regarding the determination of the economical borderlines in the waters between Svalbard and Greenland, and an agreement between the countries was signed on February 20 2006.
‘Tobias Island’ is now an undisputed part of Greenland. It is a few square kilometres and
consists of a low placed bank of rocks and sand, and the inner island is covered with a 35 meter ice cap. The island has a permanent character, since measurements has proven its existence to more than a thousand years of age. The climatic conditions in the region are very rough, but the global warming can mean that ’Tobias’ Island’ in the future may become very important regarding the financial profits of the resources in the sea.
Written by Axel Fiedler
http://www.stamps.gl/Documents/Greenlan ... B_0703.pdf
The ship depict on this stamp comparing with photo’s is the Danish patrol frigate TRITON.
An offshore patrol frigate built by the Svendborg Shipyard Ltd., Svendborg, Denmark for the Danish Navy.
07 (or 10) August laid down.
16 March 1990 launched under the name TRITON (F 358), one of the Thetis class, three sisters.
Displacement 3.500 tons, dim. 112.3 x 14.4 x 6.0m. (draught).
Powered by 3 MAN-B&W V28/32 diesel engines, 13.000 hp., speed 21.5 knots. One reversible propeller.
1 Bowthruster of 884 hp, which can hold the bow against an athwartship wind of 28 knots.
One retractable Azimuth thruster 1.088 hp., which can give the ship a speed of 10 knots.
Range by 15.5 knots, 8.500 mile.
Armament 1 – 76mm Oto Melara gun, 2 – 37mm Oerlikon (salute guns), 4 – 12.7 mm heavy machine guns M/01 LvSa.
One dept charge launcher. Carried 1 Westland Lynx Mk 80/91 helicopter.
After 2003 fitted out with 4 – Stinger lv M/93 SAM missiles.
Crew 61 men, and accommodation for 12 passengers.
02 December 1991 commissioned.
In the 1960s five inspection ships of the Hvidbjørnen class (White Bear), were built for the Danish navy, meant for service in North Atlantic and Greenland waters. After approximately 20 years of service, resulting in considerable wear and tear, it was decided in the 1980s, to replace the class by a series of new ships and in 1991, the first two THETIS and TRITON became part of the Danish navy followed in 1992 by VÆDDEREN (the ram) and HVIDBJØRNE (white bear), while the old units of the Hvidbjørnen class were phased out.
The new ships are equipped with Naval Lynx helicopters, which have a maximum radius of action of 320 nautical miles and carry a capacity of 1.500 kg.
The displacement of the class is larger that the old class and the seaworthiness is much better that the old ships, and can therefore make much more speed during rescue operations.
The class is ice-strengthened and can proceed through 80cm of solid ice. The hull is double-skinned divided by 10 bulkheads.
The class did not have a bilge keel but stabilization is achieved by a combination of fin stabilizers and a controlled passive tank system.
To minimize ice formation on the superstructure, all winches capstans, etc are placed under deck. The allowed amount of icing is 375 ton
The helicopter can also operated under considerably worse weather conditions than from the old ships. At he same time they are able to accomplish new tasks, within e.g. environment, if and when the need arises.
The TRITON was on 03 July 1993 adopted by the city of Aarhus.
Visited from March 1992 till April 1992 the USA and the former Danish West Indies (St Thomas) to celebrate the sale of the Danish West Indies to the USA 75 years ago.
15 June 1995 took part in the fleet parade in the Sound to celebrate the Danish Royal Couple’s Silver Jubilee.
1995 She visited New York.
Source. Watercraft Philately Vol 52/24.
http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/TheS ... 1991-).htm
http://www.naval-technology.com/project ... ectID=1578
