shipstamps.co.uk

According to the dates given on the stamp, 1953-1970, the Pierre Loti illustrated is not the vessel intended for the stamp design, one of four sister-ships, the others being the Ferdinand de Lesseps, Jean Laborde, and La Bourdonnais. There was no resemblance in this class of ship to the vessel depicted on the stamp, excepting that they both had one funnel, albeit of a different shape. I am indebted to Capt. J. Noble for the answer to the problem; the ship on the stamp is actually the Pierre Loti (ex -Emperor Nicholas I) built by John Brown, Clydebank, in 1913, for the Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company, Odessa. A steel, twin screw steamship, of 5,642 tons gross, 3,388 net; length 381 ft. 1 in.;breadth 51 ft. 8in; depth 37 ft. 7 in draft 30ft. 6 in. Machinery: triple-expansion engines, 6-cylinder 788n.h.p. The above details are from 1919-20 Lloyd's Register. Exactly 20 years later, under the name Pierre Loti, the following details are given: gross 5,114; net 3,012 tons. Other
details as above. Coal fuel. Speed 13 knots, 5,100 i.h.p. Passengers, 200. Crew 200.
SG501 Sea Breezes 9/76

There is some confusion over which PIERRE LOTI is depict on the stamp of Mauritius, comparing photos of both ships with the stamp design, the vessel depict on the stamp can’t be the PIERRE LOTI (I) built in the U.K. in 1913, she has a straight bow and a wooden bridge. So I am sure the designer depict the PIERRE LOTI built in 1953 it is more a stylized design, funnel is not correct also the colour is not the colour of Messageries Maritimes funnel.

PIERRE LOT I see http://www.messageries-maritimes.org/ploti1.htm

PIERRE LOTI (II) was built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No md4 by the Brest Arsenal at Brest for the Cie des Messageries Maritimes, Marseille.
03 May 1952 launched as the PIERRE LOTI (II) three sisters.
Tonnage 10,945 grt, 5,971 nrt, 6,112 dwt. Dim. 150.09 x 19.61 x 7.44 (draught), length bpp139.9m.
Powered by two 2SA each 10-cyl. oil engines, manufactured by Ch. & At de St. Nazaire, 12,500 hp, twin shafts, speed 19 knots.
Accommodation for 78 first, 112 tourist, 48 third, 162 ration (deck or day?) passengers.
September 1953 completed.

Built for the liner service between France and the Indian Ocean.
Her maiden voyage commenced on 17 July 1953 from Marseille via the Suez Canal to the East Coast of Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion till 1967 where after the canal was blocked, and she sailed via the Cape of Good Hope.
22 March1955 grounded on Nosy Be, Madagascar, she needed four tugs to refloat her again.
04 April 1959 rammed and sank a dhow near Dar es Salaam, seven of her crew were rescued.
1961 Came in collision with the AATGERK (a vessel of this name does not exist.) off Marseille Port without much damage.
December 1970 sold to Constantine S. Efthymiadis, Piraeus, Greece and renamed OLYMPIA.
1972 Renamed PATRA and in 1973/74 refitted in a car ferry for the service between Patras, Greece and Ancona, Italy.
1978 Sold to Vanieros Ultramar Armadora SA, Piraeus and renamed CHRYSOVALANDOU II.
1979 Sold to Amelia Martin Cia Naviera SA, Piraeus and renamed EROS, under Panama flag and registry.
She was broken up in 1987 at Kynosoura, on the island of Salamis, Greece.

Mauritius 1976 10c sg501, scott419.
http://www.messageries-maritimes.org/ploti2.htm http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz Lloyds Registry.