COD WAR

[shipstamps]

At the end of the 14th century British seamen started fishing in Icelandic waters. These fisheries continued long into the 20th century. The first Cod War started on September 1st 1958 when Iceland expanded its fishery zone from 4 nautical miles to 12 nautical miles. The British declared that their trawlers would fish under protection from their warships in the new zone. At that time Iceland had seven patrol vessels and a single Catalina flying boat. On September 4th the Icelandic patrol vessel Ægir and the British warship HMS Russel collided. On 6th October, the patrol vessel María Júlía fired three shots at the trawler Kingston Emerald. The British and Iceland came to a settlement about the new 12 miles zone in November 1958. The second Cod War began 14 years later, on September 1st 1972, when Iceland expanded its fishery limits to 50 nautical miles. The third and the last Cod War started in November 1975 when Iceland again expanded the fishery limits, this time to 200 nautical miles. Some severe incidents occurred during this war which concluded with a resounding victory for Iceland.

The vessel depict on the stamp is till so far not identified, the form is that of one of the Icelandic Coast Guard patrol vessels, but can not find any patrol vessel with this pole masts as seen on the stamp.
Who can identify this vessel.Click on the stamp for a larger imago.

Iceland 2008 90k sg?

Source: Downloaded from https://www.postur.is

[aukepalmhof]

Mr. Dan Rodlie got from his contacts in Iceland, the vessel depict on the Icelandic Cod War stamp is the THOR.
The design is made after a photo taken by Mr. Gardar Palsson the former Captain of the THOR.

She was built as a Fisheries Patrol vessel under yard No 107 by Aalborg Vaerft A/S, Aalborg Denmark for the Government of Iceland ( Skipautgerd Rikisins), Reykjavik.
28 April 1951 launched as the THOR, named after the God of the Thunder.
Tonnage 693 gross, 184 net, dim. 63.10 x 9.48 x 5.18m.
Powered by two 8-cyl oil engines, manufactured by Crossley Bros Ltd., Michigan, USA, speed 17 knots.
Ice strengthened.
October 1951 delivered.

She arrived the same year in Iceland and for 1 decade was she the flagship of the Icelandic Coast Guard.
She was used as a coast guard and fishery patrol vessel but also used for rescue and biological research.
1972 Her superstructure was altered and modified, and new engines installed.
She took part in the Cod Wars between the U.K and Iceland.
Between 1982 and 1985 due to engine trouble she was not used but moored alongside.
1985 Sold to the National Life-Saving Association for use as a training vessel by sailors, pilots and fishermen. Renamed in SAEBJORG.

October 1998 sold to Arnar Sigurdsson, Husavik, Iceland and for many years she lay idle in that port.
Then she was moved to Hafnarfjordur harbour where she is/was used as a floating seafood restaurant and museum, she is renamed in Restaurant Thor
In that time many memorabilia of the “Cod War” and the history of the vessel were showed on board.

2001/02 She is deleted from Lloyds Registry.

2009 A search on the internet gives that she still is in Hafnarfjordur, and used as a restaurant, a other web-site gives she is/will be converted in a discotheque, where after she will head to Miami, Ibiza, Spain and finally to the Thames at London.

Update:
1986 Sold to Slysavarnarfelag Islands, Reykjavik, renamed in SAEBJORG,
May 1912 broken up in Iceland.

Iceland 2012 B50g

Source: http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/thor_c ... vessel.htm Lloyds Registry 1955/56.
http://www.heimsnet.is/iceship/hsmyndir ... arnar.html http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz/ship/show/96530