Another identity was made by the Gozo Stamp Club in Malta which identified the ferry BANCINU depicted on Malta #1363 (2009) E3.
The stamp depicts mail being loaded by a postman on the BANCINU, under the supervision of a Mail officer, the Ship's Captain and the duty Policeman at Mgarr Harbour, Gozo.
Malta consists of three main islands: Malta proper, Gozo and Comino (a small island in between with limited resident population).
The first regular passenger service between Gozo and Malta was inaugurated on June 13, 1885. An official Mail service was first provided by the Malta Steamship Company which operated GLENEAGLES (depicted on a stamp issued on Nov. 27, 1985) between 1923 and 1937, followed by that of the Gozo Mail Service Company (using the ROYAL LADY and the FRANCO). The BANCINU, MAID OF PINTO and the PINO operated between 1950 and 1957; the KING OF ENGLAND, THE LADY STRICKLAND, HANINI, QUEEN OF PEACE, IMPERIAL EAGLE and JELLAND were among other vessels that not only served to transport mail but also to provide a passenger and cargo ferry service. Today this service is carried out by the Gozo Channel Company ferries.
The ROYAL LADY was sunk and destroyed on May 8, 1942, during World War II, through a direct hit by German planes while in its port of Mgarr.
The BANCINU too had a tragic end. During a 1957 terrible storm, she broke its moorings and was carried away to Ýewwieqa rocky beach just in front of the quay. The night-watchman was drowned when caught below deck, an area which was totally flooded.
To commemorate this stamp issue the Gozo Philatelic Society issued an attractive cover in a limited edition of 50
BANCINU (motor yacht)
She was built as a steel motor yacht under yard No 352 by Clyde Shipbuilding Company, Port Glasgow, Scotland for K.E.L. Guinness.
Launched as the MIGRANT.
Tonnage 348 gross, 201 net, dim. 154.2 x 24.2 x 11.3ft., length bpp. 128.0, draught 10.3 ft.
Powered by two 6-cyl diesel engines, manufactured by Augsburg-Nurnberg A.G., Augsburg, Germany, 136 nhp.
November 1927 completed.
1931 Sold to J.Sapene (Cie Generale de Publicite Parisienne S.A.) France and renamed VICTRIX.
1936 Renamed in AUDACIEUX, same owner.
1938 Sold to F.G.T Dawson, Greenock, U.K. and renamed MIGRANTE.
September 1939 hired by the Royal Navy reclassed as armed yacht FY 019 and used for anti-submarine duties, first in the 87th anti submarine group based in Southampton then till 1942 in Bari.
Then based at Larne, Northern Ireland in the 35th anti-submarine group.
The Ministry of War Transport purchased her in July 1941 and she continued in her role until 1946 when she was re-acquired by her pre-war owners. In Sept. 1947 she was acquired by Joseph Gasan, Malta, modernized as a passenger ferry and in July 1950 put in the Gozo mail service as the BANCINU.
On Jan. 23, 1957, she broke her moorings at Mgarr in a gale and was driven ashore, but on Feb. 10, she was salvaged by the Royal Navy salvage vessel UPLIFTER and towed to Grand Harbor. In Dec. 1957, she was sold to B. Vasilakis, Piraeus, Greece and renamed ATHINAI in 1958. Sold to Kavounideas Shipping Co. Ltd., Piraeus in 1961 and renamed SIRIUS. Her measurements were now Gt. 525 and nt. 369.
In 1964, she was sold to Saronikos S.A. Maritime Enterprices, Piraeus and renamed VORIOI. SPORADES. Greek sources give her as VOR. SPORADES.)
Deleted from registers in 1988.
(Greek sources give that she was sunk of the coast of Metaponto in the Ionian Sea with on board radio active material. An other source gives that she went in 1970 to a scrapyard in Perama a suburb of Piraeus.).
Malta 2009 $3 sg?, scott1363.
Sources: Malta Post stamp Bulletin no 272; `Gozo, Isle of Joy on Stamps' issued by the Gozo Philatelic Society (2011); Graeme Sommer - World Ship Society, Ferry Malta; Antoine Vassallo, GPS Secretary; D. Rodlie. Lloyds Register. Various web-sites.
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