Greenland: Qaqortoq - Cruise w/ MS Hamburg from Hamburg via Iceland to Greenland (**1000th Cover**)

Worldwide Covers Blog

1000

Covers

This post marks a historic milestone. It's the 1000th Cover I posted here since I started this Blog in May 2015. Thank you for being part of it.

1000 covers documented  ·  100+ countries  ·  10+ years of collecting

This cover arrived as part of the cruise "Von Hamburg über Island nach Grönland" (From Hamburg via Iceland to Greenland), a voyage running from 16 July to 2 August 2025 aboard the MS Hamburg. The cover was posted in Qaqortoq (pop. ~3,000). It is the largest town in South Greenland and the administrative centre of the Kujalleq municipality. Its name means "the white place" in Greenlandic. The town's natural harbour makes it a regular call for expedition cruise ships traversing the West Greenland coast. Besides the regular postmark, the cover shows four cachets applied on board the MS Hamburg, all in blue ink.

 

Stamps on this Cover

left Kofoed´s School Nuuk (+Additional Value) Issued: 18-10-2017

right SEPAC 2023 - "Traditional markets" Issued: 30-05-2023

Many thanks to Volker! 

 

 

 

Picture of the Ship:

 

(c) https://www.plantours-kreuzfahrten.de

 

 

USA: Ship Mail from the RV Thomas G. Thompson – University of Washington

This cover was mailed aboard the RV Thomas G. Thompson, the oceanographic research vessel operated by the University of Washington School of Oceanography in Seattle. The circular ship cachet shows a scenic landscape illustration and prominently features both the vessel's name and the School of Oceanography.

Adding a further official touch, the cover also bears the embossed seal of the University of Washington (founded 1861) in the lower left — a blind emboss used on formal university correspondence, and a nice philatelic bonus for this piece.

Stamps:

Trident Maple Bonsai (Forever, 45¢) - Issued: 23-01-2012

"Freedom Forever" Flag - Issued: 22-02-2012

School Bus (Additional Ounce) - 05-01-2023

Many thanks to John!

 

 

 

Picture of the Ship:

 

By University of Washington - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4352847/r-v-thomas-g-thompson, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=93242359

 

South Africa: German frigate "Baden-Württemberg" (F 222) - Mission: "Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024" (May - December 2024)

This is another cover of german frigate "Baden-Württemberg" on its 2024 "Indo-Pacific Deployment"-Mission. After I got a cover from its port call to Tokyo in August 2024, this comes from the port call to Cape Town, South Africa in late November 2024. As a reminder, the Indo-Pacific Deployment marked a strategic effort by European and allied navies to reinforce maritime security, uphold freedom of navigation, and strengthen partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. 

The cover was posted in Cape Town but was actually postmarked about 1,500 kilometers to the north, near the capital, Pretoria in Tshwane.

 

Stamp:

Birds - Woodpeckers (from a set of 10) - Issued: 12-03-2020

Picture of the Ship during the port call to Cape Town:

(c) Bundeswehr/ Julia Kelm

 

Germany: Kiel Week 2025

The Kiel Week 2025 took place from June 21 to June 29, 2025, under the shared motto “WIR-Woche” (“WE Week”). The event featured numerous sailing competitions, including the Windjammer parade with over 100 ships. Beyond sailing, the Kieler Woche offered a diverse program with concerts, international markets, an Ocean Funpark, and various family-friendly activities. The German Navy and its partners once again opened their ships to the public during “Open Ship” days at the Kiel Naval Base. I'm happy to receive two covers from the Kiel Week with special postmark and Kiel Week-Stickers. 

 First Cover has got a ship cachet from the Frigate Bayern:

 Stamp:

World of Letters Definitive (0,95 €) - Issued: 04-08-2022

 

(c) Tagesschau - Tagesschau.de, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=164832921

 

 

Second Cover has got a cachet from the Minehunter Pegnitz:

Stamps:

World of Letters Definitive (0,10 €) - Issued: 02-11-2022

The 75th Anniversary of the Basic Law - Issued: 02-05-2024 

 

(c) PIZ Marine

Germany: Research Vessel "Planet"

The "Planet" is a state-of-the-art naval research vessel operated by the German Navy and is considered the most modern research ship within NATO. Built using the Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design, it offers exceptional stability even in rough sea conditions. Commissioned on May 31, 2005, the "Planet" serves primarily as a platform for testing advanced sonar systems and studying maritime environmental conditions. 

 Stamp:

Natural Climate Protection - Issued: 05-09-2024

 

 

Picture of the Ship:

Source: (c) Bundeswehr

 

 

France: T.A.A.F - Port-aux-Français, Kerguelen Islands - "on board of the R/V Marion Dufresne"

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands is an overseas territory of France. It consists of: Adélie Land (Terre Adélie), the French claim on the continent of Antarctica, Crozet Islands (Îles Crozet), a group in the southern Indian Ocean, south of Madagascar, Kerguelen Islands (Archipel des Kerguelen), a group of volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, southeast of Africa and southwest of Australia, Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands (Îles Saint Paul et Amsterdam), a group to the north of the Kerguelen Islands and Scattered Islands (Îles Éparses), a dispersed group of islands around the coast of Madagascar.

The cover below was sent in late spring 2024 to the research vessel Marion Dufresne for the upcoming cruise season. It has several cachets from the crew members and is signed by the ship's commander, Ganor Ginat. The letter was then cancelled in Port-aux-Français, the largest settlement on the Kerguelen Islands.

Stamp:

Personalities - "Philibert Commerson (1727-1773) - Issued: 02-01-2023

Germany: Replenishment Ship "Rhein A 513 "

The Elbe-class replenishment ships are also known "Tenders" of the German Navy. In German, this type of ship is called Versorgungsschiff which can be translated as "supply ship" though the official translation in English is "replenishment ship". The blue cachet depicting the ship with a text references "Tag der Bundeswehr 2024" (Day of the German Armed Forces 2024), held at the Naval Base in Rostock-Warnemünde in 2024. The rectangular stamp at the top reads "Befördert mit FELDPOST" (Transported with Field Post) indicates that this cover was sent through the military postal service.

Stamp:

The 75th Anniversary of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany - Issued: 02-05-2024
 

 

Picture of the Ship:

(c) Pelz - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21663637

 

 

Greenland: Ilulissat - "on board of the MS Roald Amundsen"

In late August of this year a friend of mine went on a spectacular trip on the "Hurtigruten" Ship MS Roald Amundsen. The Cruise went trought the legandary Northwest Passage starting from Nome, Alaska to Halifax, Nova Scotia. During this cruise they called at various ports. This Cover for example was mailed during the visit in Ilulissat, Greenland. To note the small grey ship cancellation of the MS Roald Amudsen.

Stamps:

EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity" - Issued: 30-05-2023

The Environment in Greenland (from a  set of 2) - Issued: 27-10-2017

 

 

 

Picture of the Ship:

 

 

By Wolfgang Fricke - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109275816

Japan: German frigate "Baden-Württemberg" (F 222) - Mission: "Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024" (May - December 2024)

For around six months, from May to December 2024, german frigate "Baden-Württemberg" and replenishment ship "Frankfurt am Main" will be traveling westwards around the globe. The voyage is formally a so-called foreign training cruise. Above all, this means that the naval vessels and crews will use the time for their own training – especially in cooperation with various partner navies in the Indo-Pacific region. The cover below was mailed during the port call to Tokyo from 20 to 25 August 2024 with the cachet of the Crew "Echo".

 

Stamp:

Definitive Stamp "Kerria japonica" - Issued: 02-02-2015

Picture of the Ship during the port call to Tokyo:

Picture: (c)Bundeswehr/Julia Kelm

 

Cyprus: German frigate "Brandenburg" (F 215) - Operation "UNIFIL" (March 24 - July 24)

Under the command of frigate captain Andreas Scheiba, the crew of the german frigate "Brandenburg" departed from Wilhelmshaven, Germany in March 2024 to support maritime surveillance off the Lebanese coast and train the Lebanese navy as part of the UNIFIL mission (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). Numerous maneuvers took place with international partners. The covers below show port calls of the frigate in Limassol, Cyprus, in Spain (too bad no postmark on the cover) and from the arrival back in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

  

Stamps:

Euromed 2023 - "Mediterranean Festival" - Issued: 10-07-2023

Refugee Fund Tax Stamp 2023

 

EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity" - Issued: 09-05-2023

Stamps:

Sights in Germany - "Der Brocken" - Issued: 01-03-2024

Definitives - "Flowers" - Issued: 18-12-2018

Picture of the Ship:

 

Source: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/einsaetze-bundeswehr/unifil-fregatte-mtf-5780552

 

Germany: RV "Elisabeth Mann Borgese"

The Elisabeth Mann Borgese is a German research vessel named after the renowned marine law expert and environmentalist Elisabeth Mann Borgese. Operated by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, this ship is primarily used for scientific exploration of the Baltic Sea. Equipped with advanced technology, it supports research in marine biology, chemistry, and geology, contributing significantly to our understanding of marine ecosystems. Launched in 2012, the vessel plays a crucial role in environmental monitoring and the sustainable management of marine resources.

To note on this cover a stamp commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Elisabeth Mann Borgese issued in 2018 (3,70 € face value) was used. On the left you can also see on the bottom the current ship postmark and a postmark of the managing company Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG Research.

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of Elisabeth Mann Borgese - Issued: 12-04-2018

 

Picture of the Ship:

Source: https://briese-research.de/research-department/research-vessels/rv-elisabeth-mann-borgese

 

Germany: Brig "Roald Amundsen" Baltic Sea Journey 2024 (May - August 2024)

Roald Amundsen (often abbreviated 'Roald'; named in honor of Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen), originally named 'Vilm', is a German steel-ship built on the Elbe River in 1952. Having worked in different areas, she was refitted in 1992 to 1993 as a brig (two-masted square-rigged sailing ship) and now serves as a sail training ship. During summer, she usually operates in the Baltic Sea, and usually embarks for journeys to farther destinations for winter, including several trans-Atlantic crossings. 

This cover documents the start of the Baltic Sea journey of 2024 in Emden (Day Postmark Emden 03-05-2024), as can be seen from the small postmark on the left bottom "Auslaufen Emden" (= departure Emden). During its journey, the ship will call at several ports, for example in Sweden, Poland and Estonia. I hope to show some of them here.

Stamps:

Sights in Germany - "The Brocken" - Issued: 01-03-2024

Definitives "Flowers - Cardamine pratensis" - Issued: 18-12-2018

UPDATE September 2024:

Recently I received two other covers with nice stamps and postmark from the post calls in Mariehamn, Aland and Szczecin, Poland.

Stamp:

EUROPA 2016 - "Think Green" (from a set of 2) - Issued: 09-05-2016

Stamps:

European Universities Games in Lodz - Issued: 15-07-2022

The 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the Commission of National Education - Issued: 14-10-2023

 

Picture of the Ship:

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Amundsen_(ship)#/media/File:Roald_Amundsen_Kiel2007_1.jpg

Djibouti: German frigate "Hessen" (F 221) - Operation "EUNAVFOR Aspides" (February - April/May 2024)

In February 2024, the frigate "Hessen" departed from the port of Wilhelmshaven for the Red Sea with about 240 people on board in order to assist the EU mission Aspides, which aims to protect shipping from Houthi attacks. This letter was carried on board of the ship and was mailed during the harbour stay in Djibouti. On the left you can see the cachet which was used for this operation.

Stamp:

Monument of the Unknown Soldier - Issued: 18-04-2004

Picture of the Ship:

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessen_(Schiff,_2006)#/media/Datei:FGS_Hessen-2012-2.jpg

Cyprus: First foreign Mission of the german frigate "Baden-Württemberg" - "UNIFIL" (October 23 - Janaury 24)

On Friday, 20 October 2023, the german navy frigate "Baden-Württemberg" left her home port of Wilhelmshaven, Germany with the crew "Delta" to take part in the mandated foreign mission "UNIFIL" (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) off the Lebanese coast. Blue helmets from the UNIFIL mission have been working for peace between Lebanon and Israel since 1978. This makes the mission one of the oldest peacekeeping operations of the United Nations (UN). In January 2024 the mission ended. I'm very happy to receive the cover below sent from Limassol, Cyprus with a nice Cachet from the mission. 

Stamps:

Football - FIFA World Cup 2018 - Issued: 28-03-2018

Refugee Fund Tax Stamp 2018

Picture of the Ship:

Source: www.bundeswehr.de

 

Germany: Research Vessel Polarstern on Expedition PS136

The Polarstern expedition PS136 started on 22 May 2023 in Bremerhaven, Grmany and led to the Fram Strait between Greenland and the Svalbard archipelago. The expedition wanted to contribute to various large national and international research and infrastructure projects (FRAM, MUSE, iFOODis, HiAOOS, ICOS-D, SIOS) as well as to the new research programme „Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future” („Erde im Wandel – Unsere Zukunft nachhaltig gestalten”) of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). The cruise ended on 19 June 2023 in Tromsø, Norway.

Source: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/57718/1/Expeditionsprogramme_PS136.pdf 

To note, the Alfred Wegener Institute will no longer process collectors mail send to the Polarstern due to the "ever-increasing workload". This is very sad news for any Polarmail collector.

Stamp:

Definitive Issue - "Flowers" - Issued: 03-01-2005

Germany: 90th Anniversary of the steam Ice-Breaker "Stettin" + Season-ending 2023

The "Stettin" is a steam icebreaker built by the shipyard "Stettiner Oderwerke" in 1933. The economy of the city of Stettin (now: "Szczecin") strongly depended on the free access of ships to and from the Baltic Sea. Therefore, icebreakers were used to keep the shipping channels free from ice during the winter. From 1933 to 1945, Stettin was used in German Navy ("Kriegsmarine") service on the Oder River between Stettin and Swinemünde, as well as on the Baltic Sea. From 1945 on, she was used by the waterway and navigation authorities in Hamburg on the river Elbe. In 1981, Stettin was slated to be scrapped due to uneconomic costs. However, with the establishment of a development association, thousands of working hours, and support by generous sponsors, the ship was saved. Today, she is a technical culture monument. Her homeport is the museum port of Oevelgoenne in Hamburg, Germany. During summertime, Stettin cruises with invited guests on occasions like "Hamburg port birthday," "Hansesail Rostock," and "Kieler Woche," and is also used as a charter vessel.  (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Stettin_(1933) 

On this cover you can see a special personalised stamp showing a picture of the ship, a special postmark from its 90th Anniversary and on left a cachet postmark for the season-ending of cruises in 2023.

 

Stamp:

Personalised stamp "Ice Breaker Stettin" - Issued: unknwon

 

Spain: Spanish Antarctic Research Station "Gabriel de Castilla" + BIO Hesperides

Gabriel de Castilla Base is a Spanish research station located on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The station was constructed in late 1989. The station is named for Gabriel de Castilla, a 17th century Spanish navigator and according to some reports the first person to sight the mainland of Antarctica. BIO Hespérides (see my other cover) (A-33), is a Spanish polar research vessel. She was built in 1990, by Bazán Shipyards of Cartagena, Spain. Hespérides is used to service the research bases in Antarctica.

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of the Faculty of Computer Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid - Issued: 18-10-2021

Germany: “Tag der Bundeswehr - German Military Day" 2023 in Wilhelmshaven

The "Tag der Bundeswehr" is an anual open-door event at several locationas of the german federal defence. I was able to get some covers from the Event at the naval base in Wilhelmshaven.

Stamp:

World of Letters - Issued: 02-12-2021

The cover above also got a blue cachet of the German Navy frigate "Baden-Württemberg"

Stamp:

World of Letters - Issued: 02-12-2021

The cover above got a black cachet, which commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the german naval military forces.

To note that both covers were delivered by "Feldpost", which is the German military mail service.

Both Covers also got this green cachet below on the backside, which indicates “Tag der Bundeswehr" ("German Military Day"), the city "Wilhemshaven" and the date 17.06.2023

Germany: Research Vessel Polarstern on Expedition PS129

The expedition PS129 of the German research vessel Polarstern wanted to provide contributions to scientific projects encompassing physical oceanography, marine biology and marine chemistry, with the aim to investigate the water masses of the Weddell Sea and adjacent oceanic regions, and the ecological and chemical cycles within the regions. The expedition was another continuation of the long-term time series work in the framework of Hybrid Antarctic Float Observation System (HAFOS). The Polarstern  departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on 3 March 2022, taking a route across the Southern Ocean to Antarctica and back, and ended on 28 April 2022 in Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Source: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/55571/1/Expeditionsprogramm_PS129.pdf

Stamps:

The Dangers of Climate Change - The Forest is Climate Protection - Issued: 07-10-2021

Definitive Series "Flowers" 0.10ct - Issued: 08-06-2017

Germany: Research Vessel Polarstern on Expedition PS127

RV Polarstern departed 5 December 2021 from Bremerhaven, Germany and arrived on 4 January 2022 in Cape Town (South Africa) with a planned port-call in-between in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) 16 December 2021, on the expedition PS127. During the Expedition physical, biological and chemical seawater parameters as well as atmospheric measurement parameters have been measured. Also Training on hydroacoustic measurement systems have been conducted. Latest developed and newly installed measurement systems have also been tested.

 

Source: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/54871/1/PS127_Expeditionsprogramm.pdf

Stamp:

The Lorelei - Issued: 01-10-2020