The Shipping Series stamp issue was issued on 17 Decemeber 1972. The stamp issue featured the Neptune Ruby, Maria Rickmers and Chinese Junk. As Singapore has the reputation of being the 4th busiest port in the world with more than 171m (NRT) of ships sailing in and out of our port in any one year, the new Shipping series featuring ships from the old sailing ship which used to call at Singapore to a modern freighter built in Singapore depict the changing face of Singapore's history, as well.