14.05.2012

Latvijas Pasts to present latest addition of Ports of Latvia series in Ventspils

On Friday, May 11, Latvijas Pasts will hold the first-day cancellation event and presentation ceremony of the latest stamp in the Ports of Latvia series. The stamp and the first-day cover depict the Free Port of Ventpils from its characteristic angles, showing the harmony of the port and city environment. The cancellation event will take place in the Ventspils Ferry Terminal, 6 Dārzu Street, from 9 AM to 6 PM. The ceremony with participation of representatives from Latvijas Pasts and the Free Port of Ventspils is scheduled for 1 PM.

Face value of the stamp Free Port of Ventspils, designed by artist Ģirts Grīva, is LVL 0.35 and suits for mailing a regular letter within the Republic of Latvia. The edition is 500,000 copies.

The new stamp depicts the promenade of Ostas Street in Ventspils City, where the industrial daily life of the port converges with the city environment. The first-day cover depicts the work of the port, while the postmark incorporates the logo of the Free Port.

The year 2013 will see the 750^th anniversary of the first mention of the Port of Ventpils in writing. Today, the Free Port of Ventspils is able to accommodate the largest vessels in the Baltic Sea, with a maximum depth of 17 meters. Ventspils is the northernmost ice-free port in the Baltic Sea, ensuring uninterrupted operation throughout the winter.

There are currently 21 shipping agencies operating in the Free Port of Ventspils, and cargos are handled by 11 terminals. In 2011, oil products made up 51% of the cargo handled by the port, while coal had a 22% share; the amount of RORO cargo also increased. There are three regular ferry lines connecting the Free Port of Ventspils with Sweden, Germany, and Russia. In the first four months of 2012, the amount of cargo handled by the Free Port of Ventspils increased by 21%, making it the second largest in the Baltic states by cargo volume. In a survey of the influential British newspaper Financial Times, the Free Port of Ventspils ranked fifth among the best free zones in the world in 2010/2011.

Latvijas Pastsis planning to complete the series Ports of Latvia with new additions in future. These are the first stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts dedicated to the work of individual Latvian ports, so the series is particularly popular among philatelists and other enthusiasts. The first stamp in the series, Free Port of Riga, was released in 2011.

The next new philatelic release is scheduled for June 6.

See the stamp and first-day cover Free Port of Ventspils.

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts

Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a fully state-owned company with more than 4,500 employees.

Additional information:
Gundega Vārpa
SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Head of the External Communications Department
Phone: + 371 67608505
E-mail:gundega.varpa@pasts.lv
twitter.com/latvijas_pasts