The vessel depict on this stamp, entering the Volga – Don Canal lock No 1 in 1952, is the river- passenger ship JOSEPH STALIN.
Built at the Red Sormovo plant at Gorki in 1937 for the ERM, Soviet Union. She was the lead vessel of her class, and her hull was welded
Launched as JOSEPH STALIN, four sisters
Tonnage and dimensions?
Powered by two 6-BK-43 four-stroke 6-cyl diesel engines of 350 hp. each, speed 20 km/h
The two propellers were housed particular in tunnels to protect the propeller blades.
Bunker capacity 35 ton.
Flat bottomed, did have eight bulkheads, a round stern.
She was fitted out with a steering wheel fore and aft to pass easily through the many locks in the 128 km long canal.
For heating she was fitted out with a steam boiler.
Fitted out with berths for 18 passengers and eight four person cabins used by passengers without a berth.
One cargo hold of 108 m³.
Behind the engine room there were cabins for crew, a dinning room, hairdressing saloon and an other small cargo hold of 11 m³.
Also had a cinema and concert hall and a restaurant with seats for 100 persons.
1937 The Moscow Canal was opened and for this canal this five vessels were special built to pass through this canal from Moscow to the great rivers of Russia.
In 1938 she was featured in the Russian film Volga-Volga. Some scenes of the film are showed on a envelop of Russia issued in 2003, which shows also the director of the movie Mr. G. Alexandrov.
She got the honour to open op 27 July 1952 the Volga Don canal, as seen on the stamps.
During World War II attacked by enemy bombers.
After the war in 1947 again in-service in the Moscow River.
After Stalin died, was she in 1958 renamed in MIKHAIL FRUNZE.
1971 Out of service?
A model of the ship today you can find in a hall of the Red Sormovo plant at Gorky, were you can see also the movie Volga-Volga.
Russia 1947 50k sg1273, scott. (she is one of the JOSHEP STALIN class)
Russia 1952 8k sg?, scott? (cargo vessel leaving the Volga-Don Canal)
Russia 1952 40k sg 1783, scott?
Russia1r sg1806, scott? (also a photo after which this stamp was designed)
Russia 1956 envelope for the Volga-Volga film.
Rumania 1955 1.55 lei sg?, scott? (looks a Joshep Stalin class vessel?)
Source: info and images supplied by Mr. Gennadiy Sitnikov.
Click image to view full size
Launched under the name FANNY FISHER.
Tonnage 238 ton, dim. 92.2 x 22.9 x 11.1ft.
Barque rigged. One deck, square stern.
Completed 1847, registered in Sydney.
She was not always used as a whaler, in Shipping Arrivals and departures of South Australia 1627-1850, I found the vessel two times.
She arrived 24 January 1849 from Sydney, with a cargo of beef, pork and sherry and some passengers, cleared 6/7 February for the Swan River, where she arrived the 2 March, then to Mauritius with wheat and leather and some passengers.
Arrived 18 July 1850 from Newcastle, NSW with a cargo of coal and some passengers. Cleared 02 August for Launceston, Tasmania, 5 passengers and 13 crew.
April 1858 was she sold to Henry Clarke & James Merriman.
June 1858, Merriman got 32 shares, Clarke 22 and Wm. Sullivan 10 shares.
September 1860 was she owned by Merriman and Sullivan.
April 1861 was she owned only by Merriman.
1861 Owned by Merriman & William Andrews.
1866 Was Merriman again the only owner.
November 1868 Merriman 22 shares, H. Fairclough 21 and R Randall 21 shares.
1875 Owned by John Broomfield.
January 1877 owned by A. Campbell.
1892 Owned by C.A. Campell & W R Gainford. Gainford was later the only owner.
1903 Owned by Daniel Sheehy who broke vessel up.
Register closed in 1907, vessel broken up.
All her life was she registered in Sydney, and used as freighter or whaler, as whaler she visited the Norfolk Island and was whaling off the island.
Norfolk Island 1985 5c sg 356
Source: Ships of Australia and New Zealand before 1850 by Ronald Parsons
