The wreck depict on this stamp is of the cargo vessel STAR GERREN.
Built as a shelterdeck cargo vessel under yard No 536 by Jos. L. Meyer, Papenburg, Germany for account of Hermann & Engelbert Lohmann, Haren/Ems, Germany.
21 August 1965 launched as the SANTA MARIA.
Tonnage 499 grt, 346 net, 1,327 dwt, dim. 73.49 x 11.56 x 6.30m. Length bpp 66.02m., draught 3.70m.
Powered by one MWM 6-cyl 4 stroke diesel engine, 490 bhp, one shaft, speed 12 knots.
22 September 1965 delivered to owners, homeport Haren/Ems.
1973 Sold or transferred to Baltic Marine Inc.(Lohmann Reed) Singapore and renamed SANTA MARIA L, under Singapore flag and registry.
1982 Sold or transferred back again to Hermann & Engelbert Lohmann, Hamburg and renamed again in SANTA MARIA.
1985 Sold to Sprante Schiffahrts GmbH & Co KG, Emden, Germany and renamed ANNA MARIA.
1989 Transferred to Sprante Schiffahrts-Verwaltungs GmbH, San Lorenzo, Honduras.
1991 Renamed by owner again in SANTA MARIA.
1994 Sold to Palma Shipping Co SA, Puerto Cortes, Honduras not renamed.
The same year sold to the Valeron Corp. N.V. in Curacao, renamed in STAR GERREN under Belize flag and registry with homeport Belize City.
12 July 1996 when off Aruba, captain Blackman reported engine trouble, but shortly there after he informed the authorities in Aruba that the problems with the engine had been solved.
But short there after she got again engine trouble, which the 5 men crew could not repair.
A tugboat was send from Aruba to the drifting vessels, but luck was not with the STAR GERREN the towing line got entangled in the tug propeller and the tug had to return to port to fix the problem.
15 July at least was she towed to safety at Barcadera harbour, Aruba.
The vessel was in a deplorable state and the crew abandoned her.
Not any contact could be made with the owners of the ship and till August 2000 she stayed in Barcadera harbour.
In the meantime the vessel got a list due to water leakage, and the decision was made to scuttle her as a dive object in front of the High Rise hotel.
31 August 2000 was towed to the location and she was scuttled off the coast of Aruba. The wreck is on her port side in 21 metres of water.
Aruba 2012 100c sg?, scott410f
Source: Register of Merchant ships completed in 1965. And various web-sites.