The ship on this stamp issued in Norway in 2009 is identified by Mr. Crichton as the BLACK PRINCE built in 1938. He identified her on her figure-head and I agree she is the ship.
As given by the Norway Post:
Norwegian Shipowners’ Association centenary
Norway's first shipowners' association was founded in Bergen in 1899, and Stavanger, Kristiania, Arendal and Kristiansand followed suit. In 1909, representatives of the local associations met in Kristiania. After securing the support of half of the country's tonnage, they convened on 15 September 1909 to found the Norwegian Shipowners' Association (Norges Rederforbund), with former Prime Minister Christian Michelsen as president. The Norwegian merchant fleet played a significant role during both world wars. In 1917 a tonnage agreement was signed with Britain, placing 130 Norwegian vessels at the disposal of the British, and in the spring of 1940 the Scheme Agreement, brokered by the Shipowners' Association, gave Britain the use of 150 tankers and dry cargo vessels totalling 450,000 tonnes. This agreement formed the basis for the establishment of Nortraship and the merchant fleet's support of the Allied forces. Norway's contribution at sea was extremely important, but the price was high. More than half of Nortraship's 1081 vessels were lost and nearly 4000 seamen lost their lives.
During the reconstruction of Norway after the war, the merchant fleet continued to give a helping hand. Nortraship's income during the war and compensation for sunk ships provided huge foreign currency earnings. This made it possible to import large quantities of goods before exports of Norwegian goods could start up. These earnings also provided the initial capital for the purchase of new vessels. In the course of a ten-year period Norway's
merchant fleet grew to become the fourth largest in the world.
After the discovery of oil on Ekofisk in 1969, Norwegian shipping began to focus on the offshore market. Exploration,
supply and auxiliary services, seismic surveys and other specialized services were first directed at the Norwegian continental shelf, but are today world-wide and internationally competitive.
In the 1970s and 80s, during the shipping crisis, many shipowners transferred their vessels to other flags and replaced Norwegian crews with crews hired under international terms. To counteract this trend, the authorities established the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) in 1987. In 1984 the Association changed its name to Norges Rederiforbund. Today, 163 shipping companies, with a total of 1467 vessels and rigs, are members of the Association. Norway is the fifth largest shipping nation in the world.
Built as a passenger- cargo vessel under yard No 473 by Akers Mekanniska Verkstad, Oslo for Fred Olsen, Oslo.
22 December 1937 launched as the BLACK PRINCE one sister the BLACK WATCH.
Tonnage 5.039 gross, 3.431 net, 2.935 dwt., dim. 117.58 x 16.15 x 5.64m. (draught).
Two 9-cyl B&W diesel engines, 5.600 bhp, speed 18 knots.
Accommodation for 290 passengers.
May 1938 completed.
July 1938 used in the service between Oslo, Kristiansand to Newcastle, U.K.
From September 1939 due to the World War II out of service and laid up in Oslo.
May 1940 seized by the Germans, where after she was used from 24 August as a Luftwaffe accommodation ship.
31 March 1941 taken over by the German Navy in Oslo and used there as an accommodation ship.
15 May 1941 used as a U-boat depot in Danzig for the 25th U-boot Flottile.
11 October 1941 renamed LOFJORD.
14 December 1941 got on fire at Danzig-Neufahrwasser and burnt out, 28 men killed and 11 were missing of heavily wounded.
From 02 June 1942 used as Luftwaffe target hulk.
1946 Was she refloated.
Hulk sold to Sigurd Herlofson, Norway and in 1950 to Willy Burns, Germany, but she was not refitted.
16 November 1953 arrived at Antwerp for demolition.
Source: Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1938.
http://www.warsailors.com/homefleetsing ... rince.html http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/black_prince_1938.htm