First it was thought that the ALDEBARAN was depict on the stamp but Mr. Albert Mellberg from Finland, gives that it is her sistership the ASTREA. She was identified as such in 1983 in a Finish shipping magazine.
A Hyundai Co. Ltd. brochure after the stamp was designed, named the ship as ALDEBARAN, but Mr. Mellberg states that there was a mistake in the brochure, and that the name on the stern is clearly ASTREA.
She was built as a self-discharging bulk carrier by Hyundai Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., Ulsan Korea for the Finska Angfartygs A/B EFFOA, (Finland Steamship Co. Ltd.)
Launched under the name ASTREA.
Tonnage 13.069 grt, 6.169 net, 17.290 dwt., dim. 163.69 x 22.93 x 11.8m., between pp 155.33m, draught 9.1m.
Powered by one Kawasaki MAN 2SA 6-cyl. diesel engine ?hp., speed.
15 March 1978 completed.
1986 Sold to Eff Shipping Ltd., Cayman Islands, renamed LAPPONIA.
15 April 1994 she went aground in waters off Finland, but sustained little damage.
1994 Sold by Lapponia Shipping Co., Ltd., Malta, to Simon Mokster Shipping A/S, Norway (NIS), renamed STRILBERG.
2000 Sold to Toh Shipping S.A., Panama, renamed TOH SHIN.
2004 Sold to Fu Kuo Hsin Maritime, Hualien, Taiwan, renamed FU KUO HSIN NO 7.
Imo No. 7604362. Call sign H3OU. Managed by First Shipping Agency, Taiwan. She still sails under Panama flag. Her tonnage is now given as 16.788 grt. 9.395net, 17.190 dwt.
07 September 2004 on a voyage from Okinawa for Susaki she grounded at Koudono, Kochi, Japan, when water entered the engine room and she became un-navigable.
Refloated 19 September 2004 by Nippon Salvage Co. Ltd, and anchored off Kochi.
Broken up in China in October 2004.
On South Korea 1981 40w sg 1484.
Marine News 1979/280. 1995/422. 2001/168. Watercraft Philately Vol. 41 page 67 and Vol. 42 page 25.
http://www.equasis.org Marine News 2004/687 http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz