shipstamps.co.uk

To mark the 10th anniversary of the nationalisation of the Suez Canal, the United Arab Republic issued a 10 m. commemorative stamp on July 26, 1966 show two ships of different sizes, the small one with 1956 on the side in Arabic numerals, the larger with 1966, representing the growth of canal traffic in the 10 years of Egyptian ownership. The building in the background is the headquarters of the Suez Canal Organisation.
I think that there can be no doubt that the artist has used for his outline of the ships the silhouette of the Shaw Savill liner Southern Cross for the general profile, position of life-boats, funnel and other details correspond. Some structural details, the windows in particular, need to be more clearly elaborated to make a better job of the design.
The Southern Cross was built at Belfast by Harland and Wolff Ltd., and was the first British passenger liner to have her propelling machinery aft. She made her maiden voyage in 1955 and has a gross tonnage of 20,204. A total of 1,160 tourist-class passengers are carried but no cargo at all. The ship completes the round trip from Southampton, via the West Indies, Panama and Fiji, to Wellington, returning via Sydney, N.S.W. and Cape Town, in 21/2 months. Four steam turbines driving twin screws give her a speed of 20 knots.
SG891 Sea Breezes 12/66

Built in 1954-'55 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, #1498, for Shaw Savill & Albion Line, launched:17-08-'54.
Passenger ship, Gt:20.204, Loa:184,50m. B:24,40m. Draught:7,97m. 4 steam turbines:20.000 hp. (14.711 kW.) 20 kn. passengers in tourist class:1160.
November '71 laid up in Southampton, April '72 in River Falls. January '73 sold to Cie. de Vapores Cerulea S.A. Ithaka, converted as cruise ship and renamed in CALYPSO, 24-04-'75 in service, '80 renamed CALYPSO I, sold to Eastern Steamship Lines, Panama, '81 to Western Steamship Lines, Panama as AZURE SEAS, Gt:14.673, Nt:5576, Dw:7005, passengers:821, until May '91 cruises from San Francisco to Mexico, then from Fort Lauderdale for Admiral Cruises.
'92 sold to Dolphin Cruise Line, Liberia, renamed OCEAN BREEZE, Gt:21.667.
In '99 sold to Imperial Majesty Cruises under the same name.
27-06-2003 sold for scrap to Ahmed Muztaba Steel Industries, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
(Egypt 1966 10 M. StG.891)
Ocean Ships, David Hornsby + internet.