Harbourmaster 28.5.1998

A harbourmaster (or harbormaster, see spelling differences) is an official responsible for enforcing the regulations of a particular harbour or port, in order to ensure the safety of navigation, the security of the harbour and the correct operation of the port facilities.

A prime consideration for any Harbour Master is safety of navigation for any vessel that is utilising the port and its approaches. Harbour Masters regulate the manner in which vessels conduct their navigation in port. Most regulatory requirements are clearly set out in the form of Port Bye-Laws, General Directions, Pilotage Directions etc. and these clearly define what the “Rules of the Road” are in terms of safe navigation.

50th Anniversary of the Åland Sea Rescue Society 30.10.2015

Åland stamp celebrates 50 years of Åland Sea Rescue Society

In 2015, the Åland Sea Rescue Society has served seafarers for 50 years. Åland Post commemorated the anniversary with a dramatic stamp issue on 30th October 2015.

The issue focuses on the most important task of the society – rescuing human lives in Åland waters. The volunteer crews are on call day and night year round.

The sea rescuers also perform search missions, towing as well as medical transportations and they engage in oil salvaging and firefighting. The society works preventively in schools and other places by teaching seamanship and safety at sea.

With 6 stations located in Åland – all equipped with sea rescue vessels – the Åland Sea Rescue Society has approximately 130 active sea rescue volunteers. The society is a non-profit organization funded by the local gaming company PAF (Ålands Penningautomatförening), donations and membership fees.

The Man at the Wheel

The statue ‘The man at the wheel’ is the oldest outdoor piece of art in Mariehamn. Åland Post issued an engraved stamp featuring the well-known statue. The stamp was issued on 26.4.2012. Most stamps issued by Åland have been about maritime subjects and sea-faring activities. How much importance is given to the man at sea is aptly illustrated by the stamp on this FDC, namely The Man at the Wheel. This statue was raised in 1936 in honour of those seamen who perished at sea. Gazing towards the sea with a stern look of determination, this seaman at the wheel represents and pays homage to the maritime history of Åland.

The PhilaMirror said in its issue of 3.5.2012 that the monument ‘The man at the wheel’ was unveiled in the Western Harbour of Mariehamn on July 31, 1936. First erected in the English Park, the statue was moved in the mid-1950s, because the Midsummer celebrations were considered to dishonour the statue. Today, it stands near the Maritime Museum and, every year, many people visit the statue to pay their respects on All Saints’ Day. Unique graphic sheet A unique graphic sheet of the issue ‘The Man at the Wheel’ has also been produced. Printed in a limited edition of only 300, each sheet is individually numbered and signed by engraver Lars Sjööblom. The printing was done by hand, sheet by sheet, in a hand printing press and on paper of very high quality, specifically designed for the printing of exclusive prints. My friend Ella gave me this nice FDC. 

The North By the Sea - Life at Sea

This lovely album of miniature sheets of stamps is an annual feature now. Eight Nordic countries make a simultaneous Joint issue of stamps from their respective countries about “Life at Sea”. Who wouldn’t want to live and work by the sea after looking at these lovely stamps? And, I was the lucky to get this lovely album from My Good Friend Pia.

Aland - Belgium Joint Issue

This lovely card was jointly issued by Aland and Belgium to honour the three from Aland and the 27 from Belgium who lost their lives as a result of the Sinking of RMS Titanic on 15th April 1912.

For more on the Titanic please see my post dated 16th April 2012. This nice card was sent to me by my dear friend Pia.

A Professional Fisherman's Life at Sea

Åland’s post issued a stamp named ‘A professional fisherman's life at sea’ on 21.3.2012.
Part two of the Nordic series the North by the Sea features the actual life at sea. Åland's contribution to the series shows professional fishermen trawling from a fishing boat. Since the dawn of time, fishing has been an important Åland industry. Originally, small-scale fishing was mainly conducted for domestic consumption, but fishing for sale or exchange for principally cereals soon developed. Baltic herring long dominated fishing. In olden times, pike and trout, which were mostly fished by seine and hoop net, were the most important types of fish in addition to Baltic herring. From the Middle Ages until Sweden restricted the import of live fish in the 1950s, they were delivered by well-boats and sold primarily in Stockholm. My dear friend Ella sent me this wonderful FDC.