There is some confusion under the ship stamp collectors which vessel is depict, the UNION ROTOITI or the UNION ROTORUA, I have a maxi-card of the stamp, and the maxi card is signed by the master of the UNION ROTOITI Capt. Chris Morris. The New Zealand sources give that the UNION ROTOITI is depict.

Built as a ro-ro cargo vessel under yard No 61 by Whyalla Shipbuilding and Engine Works, Whyalla, Australia for the Union Steamship Company, New Zealand.
19 September 1975 keel laid down.
12 November 1976 launched under the name UNION ROTOITI., one sister the UNION ROTORUA.
Tonnage 12.858 gross, 4.562 net, 11.830dwt., dim. 203.23 x 26.29 x 16.13m, draught 9.52m.
Powered by two Thomassen Holland BV gas turbines, 20.739 kW., twin screws, speed 19 knots.
Crew 32.
22 June 1977 completed.

Used in the Trans-Tasman service between Auckland and Sydney/Melbourne.
1985/86 Her gas turbines removed and replaced by two Wartsila-Wasa diesel engines, the work was undertaken in December 1985 by G.H. Varley Ltd., Newcastle N.S.W. Speed 19 knots.
1999 Sold to Anzdi Ltd. Bermuda, renamed ROTOITI.
1905 Sold to CP Ships Uk. Ltd. (Hapag-Lloyd AG) and renamed CP ROTOITI, managed by Anglo-Eastern Ships Management Ltd. Hong Kong.
February 2006 renamed in ROTOITI again.
Her tonnage is now given as 22.228 gross, 6.668 net, 20.270 dwt.click to read more]

Built as a teak hulled composite screw sloop by Devonport Drydock for the Royal Navy.
08 March 1875 keel laid down.
26 April 1877 launched as HMS PELICAN. Her launch was delayed because of the disagreement in manufacturing machinery. She was consequently fitted with engines intended for her sister ship CORMORANT building at Chatham. She was the 13th ship in the Royal Navy that carried this name.
Displacement 1.130 tons, dim. 51.86 (bpp) x 10.97 x 4.84m.
Powered by a 2-cyl. horizontal compound steam engine, manufactured by Humphrys, Tennant & Co., 1,056 ihp, single shaft, speed 12.3 knots.
Bunker capacity 150 tons of coal, range by a speed of 10 knots, 1.480 mile.
Armament 2 – 7 inch and 4 – 64pdr. guns.
Barque rigged. Fitted out with a clipper bow.
Crew 140.
29 November 1877 completed.

After completing stationed in the Pacific until 1882.
From 1882 till 1883 refitted at Devonport and she was rearmed with 2 – 6 inch at the quarter deck broadside ports, 4 – 5 inch at the waist broadside ports and 2 – 5 inch chase guns.
1884 till 1888 again stationed in the Pacific.
18 October 1886 she visited Pitcairn Island with on board John Tay, who introduced the 108 islanders to the Seventh Day Adventist faith. Given permission by the Pitcairners to reside and present the teachings of the Seventh Day Adventists,...[click to read more]

Built as an unarmed iron hulled wooden sheated screw frigate by the Portsmouth Drydock for the Royal Navy.
Ordered as BLONDE, but after the visit of the Shah of Persia to the U.K. in 1873 she was renamed in SHAH.
07 March 1870 keel laid down.
10 September 1873 launched as HMS BLONDE.
Tonnage 4,210 tons (bm), displacement 6,250 tons. Dim. 101.80 x 15.84 x 8.08m., draught 7.83m.
Powered by 2-cyl. horizontal single expansion steam engine, manufactured by John Penn & Son, 7,480 ihp, single hoisting screw, speed 16.2 knots.
Bunker coal capacity 890 tons. Range under steam by a speed 10 knots 6,840 miles.
Armament: middle deck 16 – 7 inch MLR and 2 – 6.3 inch MLR guns. Upper deck 2 – 9 inch MLR, 6 – 6.3 inch MLR and also 4 light guns, 12 MG and 2 TCs.
Ship rigged with a sail area of 26,655 square feet.
Crew 600.
December 1875 completed.

After commissioned sailed to the Pacific as flagship of the British Pacific Squadron under Rear-Admiral Algernon de Horsey.
29 May 1877 the Pacific Squadron under command of Rear-Admiral Horsey came in action against the Peruvian armoured turret ship HUÁSCAR after she attacked British vessels.
The SHAH fired the first locomotive torpedo to be used in anger, the torpedo missed, and the HUÁSCAR escaped.
December1878 she visited Pitcairn Island and Rear-Admiral Algernon...[click to read more]

Built as a 4th Rate wooden ship by the Pembroke Dockyard for the Royal Navy.
26 March 1846 ordered.
August 1847 laid down.
17 April 1855 launched as HMS SUTLEJ named after the Sutlej River in India, Pakistan. She was one of the Constance Class of which five were built.
Tonnage 2,125 tons (BM), dim. 54.86 x 16.09 x 4.96m., length of keel 44.53m.
Armament: upper deck 28 – 32pdr; quarter deck 14 – 32pdr.; forecastle 8 – 32 pdr. and 10 – 8 inch guns when built.
After completing laid up in ordinary.
.
04 March 1859 ordered to be converted from sail to a screw frigate and lengthened.
Conversion was carried out in the Portsmouth Dockyard.
Tonnage 3,065 tons (bm), displacement 3,826 tons, dim. 77.60 x 15.78 x 5.24m., length of keel 67.11m, draught 7.16m.
Powered by a steam engine, 2,270 ihp, manufactured by Maudslay, Sons & Field. Speed 12 knots.
Armament: upper deck 10 – 8 inch and 18 – 32pdr; quarter deck 10 – 8 inch and 18 – 32 pdr. guns.
Crew 500
26 March 1860 undocked at the Portsmouth Dockyard.

Commissioned under command of Captain Matthew Connolly, and flagship of Rear-Admiral John Kingcome in the Pacific.
1864 She visited Pitcairn Island to carry out a census, leave some supplies and administer medical treatment where needed. Commander in Chief of the Pacific Station Vice...[click to read more]

The design of SR N1 hovercraft was made by Sir Christopher Cockerell (1910-1999) who was a radio engineer who turned to boat building, when investigation into the problems of water-drag, led to building a simple craft which could fly over the surface of water and land.

First the invention was offered to the British Government but not much happened till a small contract was awarded to Saunders Roe to check the design of the craft.
After this company did give a favourable report Cockerell got permission to approach the National Research and development Corporation (NRDC).
Cockerell who did have the patent (12 December 1955) on the design sold it to the NRDC for £1.000, thereafter the NRDC ordered in 1958 a experimental craft, the SR-N1 from Saunders Roe (Aviation) in East Cowes.
Dimensions 7.30 x 6.96 x 3.05m. weight of the craft around 4 ton.
Powered by an Alvis Leonides engine of 435 hp. speed 25 knots.
11 June 1959 she made her first trial flight in the Solent off Cowes.

She was then transported by tender to France and on 25 July under command of Capt. Peter Lamb and two more men under which Cockerell, she made the crossing between Calais and Dover in 2 hours 3 minutes.

December 1959 the Duke of Edinburg visited Saunders Roe and he made a test ride on the craft, he flew her so fast that she got a dent in the bow, which...[click to read more]