shipstamps.co.uk

Until 1888 it was exclusively sailing ships which had carried supplies to Greenland and brought the purchased Greenlandic products back to Denmark.
The Greenland Trade Department was in possession of 3 bark vessels and 5 brigs, the oldest was from 1801 and the newest had been purchased in 1878.
The Directorate of the Greenland Trade Department then decided to open a new era in Greenland trade, and during the years 1886 - 87 commissioned Elsinore Wooden Ship Yard with the building of a wooden ship at a tonnage of 388 gross tonnes and a length of just over 132 feet (42 metres). The ship was to be equipped with a steam engine at modest 60 hp and was rigged as a bark ship so that it was also possible to use sails.
The ship received the name "THE WHITE BEAR" and departed on its maiden voyage on 24th April 1888. The first year THE WHITE BEAR undertook two voyages and the following years three voyages annually.
There was, however, no great confidence that old experienced skippers of sailing vessels would be able to sail a modern mechanically propelled vessel.
Therefore there were changing naval officers in charge of the ship. Also The position as chief officer was filled by a naval officer the first year. This arrangement was naturally not popular amongst the skippers of the Greenland Trade Department.
The "WHITE BEAR", however, did not have a long life and only managed to make 21 voyages.
The ship was lost under dramatic conditions in 1895. On its way to Qaqortoq the ship had put into a port of refuge on the south side of Nunarsuit because of large amounts of field ice. Here the White Bear was pressed down by some violent movements of ice which were described as a kind of "sea quake".
The passengers of the ship and the crew of 19 managed to reach the shore with few supplies, which they had to make do with until they were rescued three weeks later.
Stamp issued 24.6.2002. Greenland Philatelic.