Kategorie Archive: Ill-fated offshore radio ships

Hendrik Jan

A ninety foot canal ship (the former Ijmuiden 17), owned by Fietje Donselaar, fitted out in the canal Sparne (in Haarlem) by Steph Willemsen and Bob Peeters. During 1970, the Hendrik Jan was partially rebuilt in the Sparne canal by a couple of illegal immigrants from Angola, the former Portuguese colony. Bob Peeters had promised…
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Lady Dixon

The Lady Dixon was an ex Commissioners of Irish Lights lightvessel. She was built in 1876/78 by the Victoria Shipbuilding Co., West Passage Cork, Ireland. She was 91 ft long, 21 ft wide and her draft was 11ft. She cost £7.500 to build and served on many Irish stations. Her construction was a composite of…
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M.V. Nannell

The MV Monte Cuatro was built in 1956 at the S.A. Juliana Const. Gijonesa shipyard. The ship's length was 244 feet 4 inches (74.71 metres) and a width of 35 feet (10.75 metres) built in such a way that it could be converted at any time from a 550 BR Tonnes freighter with an open…
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Unknown (Radio Mauritius)

Ship's details: An unknown Greek cargo vessel was supposed to have been converted into a radio ship in a Greek harbour. Planned offshore radio station: Radio Mauritius International in spring 1980 Planned location: Off the coast of Zeebrugge (Belgium)
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Unknown (Radio Europa)

A 90 foot long vessel with two masts Planned offshore radio station: The station had been provisionally named Radio Europa. In September 1982, the ship presumably spent some time at sea carrying out test broadcasts. In February 1983 the vessel was said to be berthed in an European port. Planned location: International waters of the…
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Unknown (Radio Albatross)

A 240 ton converted minesweeper purchased by Robert Tidswell and Gospertor Lanc. In September 1964, Tidswell claimed the ship was being fitted out in the Medway, and that a further £12,000 was needed to complete the work. In October 1964, it was announced that the ship was ready. There is a report that it might…
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Unknown (Gdansk)

Unknown. Only one of these ships was used for Russian propaganda transmissions directed to China. Planned offshore radio station: On July 8th 1971, the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf published a leaked report from the CIA. It revealed that 10 pirate radio ships based on the Radio North Sea operation, were under construction in the Polish…
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M.V. Sea Level XI

In the first phase of WRLI the ship MV Sea Level XI was being considered for use. This was a high stack North Sea type oil supply vessel with a large open deck space to the aft. Consultations were held with Bob Carr who was the original Texas engineer who helped to set up the…
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Pursuit / Jubilee

A 300 ton coaster Pursuit was going to be used and anchored off Dundee/Scotland. This was later changed to a converted 65 foot fishing vessel Jubilee that would take up position in the North Sea off Aberdeen. Offshore radio station: Three students from Aberdeen (amongst them Paul Harris) wanted to raise funds for their 1967…
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M.V. Piscator

A former Dutch fishing trawler, registered in Scheveningen. The ship with a length of around 150 feet has an aerial mast of about 100 feet, topped by a pole for what could perhaps be an FM array. There's a portacabin on deck for the messroom with table, fridge cooker etc. The vessel has been fitted…
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