Scott Number: -
Serial number: 2011-21
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 240 fen
Date of issue: August 8, 2011
Size of stamp: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Size of Sheet: 230 * 120 mm
Designer: Dong Qi
Printing process: Photogravure
Printer: Liaoning Province Shenyang Stamp Printing House

On August 8, 2011, the special stamp "China Ocean Shipping" (catalog number 2011-21) was officially issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of New China's ocean shipping industry. The set consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps were designed by Dong Qi and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

The stamps feature the two core vessel types of ocean shipping: container ships and bulk carriers, representing the main types of capacity in China's ocean shipping system. They review the growth of China's ocean fleet since the inception of ocean shipping in 1961, connecting to global trade through maritime transport, supporting opening-up and international trade development, and showcasing China's strength as a major shipping nation and the dynamic development of its marine economy.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Container Shipping

Image: The COSCO Asia container vessel sailing on the sea, with the Shanghai Lujiazui skyline as a city landmark.
History: The "COSCO Asia" was the first 10,000-TEU container vessel of the COSCO Group. Container shipping is the main mode of freight transport in modern international trade. Shanghai, as an international shipping center, is a hub port for China's foreign trade containers.
Significance: An iconic carrier of modern ocean container shipping, representing the dominant mode of global trade logistics.

Bulk Shipping

Image: The large dry bulk carrier "Xin Shenghai" sailing through waves, with the Tianjin port skyline in the distance.
History: Dry bulk carriers are responsible for the ocean transport of bulk commodities such as coal, ore, and grain. They are a key force in ensuring the supply of domestic industrial raw materials and bulk commodity trade. Tianjin Xingang Port is an important ocean shipping hub in northern China.
Significance: A major vessel type for bulk cargo transport, supporting the development of domestic foundational industries.

Artistic and Design Features:

Layout: Horizontal stamp format with the two stamps printed together as a se-tenant pair, providing a unified and coordinated composition suitable for viewing as a set.
Style: Realistic oil painting style, accurately reproducing the appearance of ocean-going vessels, with sea surface reflections enhancing the sense of motion.
Regional Pairing: Shanghai and Tianjin, two major shipping centers in the south and north, complement each other, reflecting China's coastal port layout.
Color Palette: Dominated by blue ocean tones, highlighting the marine theme with a fresh, grand visual appeal.

This stamp set was a supplementary special issue for the year, focusing on ocean shipping, port logistics, and the marine economy. The two stamps cover the two main categories of container and bulk shipping, making it suitable for thematic collections on shipping, maritime transport, international trade, and port development. As a dedicated commemorative item for the 50th anniversary of China's ocean shipping, it holds unique historical and documentary value in shipping-themed collections.