Alandsfarjan.

[john sefton]

Passenger Ferry - Alandsfarjan.
Many Alanders associate the name Alandsfarjan with the ship servicing between Mariehamn and Kapellskar 1987-2008. However, the ship featured on the 2013 stamp is the very first ferry named Alandsfarjan.
Following a disagreement between the founders of Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen, the shipping company that pioneered passenger traffic between Aland and Sweden in 1959, a group of owners started the competing shipping company Rederi Ab Alandsfarjan.
S/S Alandsfarjan was built in Scotland in 1933 and named S/S Brittany. Alandsfarjan was the first ferry in service for the newly formed company. Operations between Roslagen on the Swedish coast and Mariehamn in Aland began on 20 June 1963. The ferry was originally owned by the British railways and in service on the British Channel.
S/S Alandsfarjan was withdrawn from service in 1972 and demolished in Teijo, Finland, after having run aground and been damaged.

Aland Post.

Aland 2013 SG?

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

Built in 1933 by William Denny & Brothers Dumbarton, #1261 for Southern Railway Co., Southampton as BRITTANY.
Propulsion: 2 x 2 Parsons steam turbines by shipbuilder, geared to 2 sc shafts: 2500shp. 240nhp. 14kn.
Launched: Wednesday, 12/04/1933
Ship Type: Passenger Vessel
Ship's Role: Jersey/St Malo Steamer
Tonnage: 1445 grt, 554 nrt, 360 dwt,Length: 249.8', (76,14m.)Breadth: 39.1', (11,90m.)Draught: 11' 6", (3,50m.)
1948 British Transport Commission, Southern Region, London
1963 British Railways Board
1972 Alandsfarjan A/B (SF Line) , Mariehamn
Status: Scrapped - 1972 Salo Finland

Remarks:
Evacuated British holidaymakers from St malo to Channel Islands
From Feb/May 1940 ran from Folkestone/Calais, took part in operations at Dunkirk, then based Weymouth.
9/1940 requisitioned as auxliary netlayer, seeing service in India/Egypt/Malta/Sierra Leone
Refitted 1945 and restored to former duties after WW2, including excursions Channel Is/France
1962 Laid up Southampton
Sold 4/1963 Alandsfarjan A/B ,Mariehamn and after refit entered service Mariehamn/Kappelskar.
Grounded Remmargrund in Stockholm archipelago 19/05/1972; repairs considered uneconomical.
Broken up Salo, Finland by Wihuri~Yhtyma O/Y.

History from late Donald Robertson

[D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen]

Passenger Ferry - Alandsfarjan.
Many Alanders associate the name Alandsfarjan with the ship servicing between Mariehamn and Kapellskar 1987-2008. However, the ship featured on the 2013 stamp is the very first ferry named Alandsfarjan.
Following a disagreement between the founders of Rederi Ab Vikinglinjen, the shipping company that pioneered passenger traffic between Aland and Sweden in 1959, a group of owners started the competing shipping company Rederi Ab Alandsfarjan.
S/S Alandsfarjan was built in Scotland in 1933 and named S/S Britanny. Alandsfarjan was the first ferry in service for the newly formed company. Operations between Roslagen on the Swedish coast and Mariehamn in Aland began on 20 June 1963. The ferry was originally owned by the British railways and in service on the British Channel.
S/S Alandsfarjan was withdrawn from service in 1972 and demolished in Teijo, Finland, after having run aground and been damaged.

Aland Post.

Aland 2013 SG?

[john sefton]

See also under Brittany:

http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 962#p13962