24.02.2003

No. of stamps in the set:	2 stamps
Quantity:	-
Face values:	2 x 5.00 DKK
Size:	30,94 x 45,00 mm
Presentation:	Sheets of 20 stamps
Colours:	Multicoloured
Gum:	PVA Gum
Paper:	110 gsm
Perforation:	14 per 2 cm
Print technique:	Offset Lithography
Author, design:	Per á Hædd
Printers:	Cartor Security Printing, France

First Day Cover:

A tunnel passes beneath Vestmannasund. We can say this now that Vágatunnilin is open to the public. The submarine tunnel connects the island of Vágar, where the only airport in the Faroe Islands is located, with the island of Streymoy, where the capital, Tórshavn, lies.

The starting signal for the work on Streymoy came on 28 September 2000, and work commenced on Vágar on 27 February 2001. But the idea of a fixed link across Vestmannasund is much older. Surveys were carried out up to 1989 and these by and large formed the basis for the result achieved.

Preparations for the submarine tunnel began in the winter of 1988 so that work could have begun in April 1989, but this was postponed when the economic recession hit the islands. Ten years were to pass before the work was recommenced. The limited liability company, “Vágatunnilin pf.”, was founded and the first funds were earmarked in the budget, so work on the tunnel could be resumed.

Advantages
One of the advantages of a fixed link between the islands of Vágar and Streymoy is that it takes considerably less time to travel to and from Vágar. Before the tunnel was completed it took at least two hours to get from Tórshavn to Sørvágur, including waiting and the ferry trip itself. The submarine tunnel has reduced the distance by 10 km, and thereby reduced travelling time by more than an hour.

For the residents of Vágar the tunnel means that the connection to the "mainland" makes things far easier. It is possible that more young people will choose to take an education or to work on the "mainland", as it is no longer necessary for them to move there due to the long distance involved. The tunnel has also provided a greater sense of security, as transport time to the National Hospital has been dramatically reduced.

Where business is concerned there is a better connection with customers and markets for companies on Vágar. The customer base has been broadened and this also represents a challenge, as the residents of Vágar have gained easier access to service and offers from other places.

For the Faroese in general the tunnel means less transport time, as their connections to foreign countries mainly leave from the only Faroese airport at Sørvágur on Vágar. Links with the world outside have therefore become more flexible and convenient.

Geology
The Faroe Islands are of volcanic origin. The lowest layers of basalt are oldest, then come the middle layers, and the most recent are the uppermost layers of basalt.

The tunnel beneath Vestmannasund only passes through the middle layers of basalt, which are dissimilar to the two other layers. The lowest and uppermost layers of basalt are normally broad and clearly separated from each other, but the middle layers are thin and often interwoven, which makes them appear more solid.

Geological and seismic surveys, as well as core drilling, have together provided an extremely precise picture of the material beneath Vestmannasund. Samples have shown that the rock is strong. The material is easy to drill through, but slightly less so to blast. There has been almost no water penetration at Vágar, where the layers of basalt are dense and firm. There was initially a number of cracks at Streymoy, but further forward, where the layers were denser and firmer, the work progressed better and there were fewer places which had to be sealed to prevent water penetration.

The lowest point above the tunnel is 30 metres, whereas the highest point is 140 metres. The depth of the sea is no greater than 60 metres, and, at the deepest point, the tunnel lies 105 metres below sea level.

Facts on the tunnel
Length: The submarine tunnel is 4.9 kilometres long, of which around 2.5 kilometres lies beneath Vestmannasund. On Vágar the road to the tunnel is 1.8 kilometres long, and on Streymoy, 300 metres.

The roads: There are two lanes in the 10 metre wide tunnel. The roadway itself is seven metres wide. There are emergency parking spaces at intervals of 500 metres on each side of the road, and also three places where heavy goods vehicles can turn in the event of an emergency arising.

Blasting: 327,000 cubic metres of material were blasted for the tunnel, etc. The stone from the tunnel was used to build the road in the tunnel and the harbour at Kollafjørður. 850 tonnes of explosives were used.

Water penetration: 1,000 tonnes of concrete were used in the tunnel to prevent water penetration. Highest permissible water penetration in a tunnel of this kind is 300 litres per minute for each kilometre. Water penetration in Vágatunnilin is less than half of this quantity and pumps immediately lead off the water.

Reservoir: A 50 metre long reservoir is located at the lowest point of the tunnel which, in an emergency, is capable of holding all the water that enters the tunnel for a period of 48 hours if the pumps should break down.

Budget: Vágatunnilin was budgeted to cost DKK 240 million in 1999 prices, not including interest during construction or financing costs. Føroya Løgting (the Faroese Parliament) granted DKK 160 million for the project, and the remainder was financed with the help of loans.

Traffic: Ferries across Vestmannasund transported approximately 300,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles annually. This traffic is expected to increase considerably due to the submarine tunnel.

Timetable: The tunnel breakthrough occurred just after the turn of the year 2001, and the tunnel was opened to the public on 10 December 2002.

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