Comet

Ship details: A 90 foot 500 ton former lightship having no engines was built at John Browns ship yard on the River Clyde. After Radio Scotland’s closedown, the Comet was towed to Dunbar harbour and was put up for sale. Later the Comet was taken to the port of Methil, Fife, where the radio transmitter and studio equipment was removed. The Comet was sold and towed to Holland where she was used as a houseboat. In 1969, the Comet was scrapped by shipbuilder Van de Marel of Ouwerkerk, Holland.

Offshore radio station: Radio Scotland from 31st December 1965 to 14th August 1967

Location: International waters off Dunbar, later off Troon and Ballywalter (Scotland). Two diesel generators drove the transmitters, which were RCA. B10 J’s employing the Ampliphase system of phase modulation. Each transmitter developed 10,000 watts, and the transmitters feed via a combining network to the aerial. This gave a total pwer output of 20,000 watts, with the added facility that either transmitter could be shut down for maintenance, and the service retained on half power.

unknown photographer