Norway issued a miniature sheet about the Nordic Cuisine, not much to do with shipping but in the margin of the MS is depict the ferry POLARLYS. The Norway Post gives by the issue:
The success of New Nordic Cuisine is due to a joint manifesto for The New Nordic Kitchen. This manifesto states that food should express the purity, freshness and simplicity associated with its region of origin. The seasons should be reflected in the menu, and dishes should be based on ingredients and produce that are at their best in our climate, landscapes and water. In addition, the food should combine the demand for good taste with modern knowledge of health and wellbeing.
The New Nordic Kitchen requires that new applications be developed for traditional Norwegian ingredients. Other traditions and applications should bring new impulses to our own culinary culture. Cooperation in the Nordic area and regional development of ingredients are other key words in the famous manifesto. This new food revolution is celebrated with two stamps. Food from the restaurant Maaemo in Oslo is depicted on one stamp:
-Salt and Pepper first had champagne and appetizers on things such as ice-cold Nyr cheese and whitefish roe, purple salsify in juniper, and roasted duck. Now they had some kind of cake made from dried, salted chantarelles and dehydrated chicken leg bouillon. ‘I am reluctant to open my mouth. I don’t want to let the taste go,’ said Pepper.
We now move from Maaemo and Dagens Næringsliv’s restaurant critics to the plates to the second stamp, the lifeblood of the coast and the nation’s floating hotel, Hurtigruten. When you go to bed, the fishermen are headed to work.
Hurtigruten itself decribes it like this: -At the same time, local fishermen in Sigerfjord in Vesterålen head out to bring in the catch of the day: Arctic char. (…) Later in the evening, in the restaurant on the table, that same Arctic char that was brought out of the sea in the morning is lying on your plate. Local and completely fresh. And while we sail on along our beautiful coastline, we get closer to the ingredients for our next meal.
http://wopa-stamps.com/index.php?contro ... e&id=27455
The ferry was built under yard No 223 by Ulstein Verft A/S, Ulsteinvik, Norway for Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap A/S, Tromso.
14 July 1994 building contract signed.
01 February 1995 laid down.
04 November 1995 launched as the POLARLYS (3) christened by the Governor of Svalbard Mrs. Ann-Kristin Olsen. Two sister ships the NORDNORGE and NORDKAP.
Tonnage: 11,341 grt, 4,335 net, 1,150 dwt. Dim. 123 x 19.5 c 4.7m. (draught).
Powered by four 9-cyl. Ulstein Bergen diesel engines, 7,940 kW, twin shafts, speed 18.0 knots. Bow has two 1,075 hp thrusters, the stern has also a submersible 1,200 hp azimuth thruster who can give her a speed of 7 knots in an emergency.
Accommodation for 737 passengers in coasting and when cruising she has 479 berths in 225 cabins. Can carry 45 cars.
Loading and unloading is by a forklift through a loading port on the port side.
The public areas are spacious and include a bar, lounge, cafeteria, dining room and conference room.
23 March 1996 delivered to owner.
Her maiden voyage was an introduction tour along the west coast of Norway followed by a cruise to the Shetland and Orkney Islands in Great Britain.
17 April 1996 sailed for her first voyage in the regular ferry service from Bergen to Kirkenes.
In march 2006 Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap merged with Ofotens and Vesteraalens Dampskibsselkab (OVDS) and formed Hurtigruten Group ASA, Narvik, Norway and the POLARLYS was transferred to the new formed Hurtigruten ASA in Narvik.
2016 In service, same name and owner, Imo No 9107796.
Norway 2016 2 x 14.00 Nkr sgMS?, scott?, (POLARLYS is depict in the margin of the sheet.)
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_%C2%ABPolarlys%C2%BB