QSLs from International Waters
From the archives of Tom Gavaras
RADIO NORTHSEA INTERNATIONAL
Radio North Sea International (RNI) was a European offshore pirate radio station that broadcast from a ship anchored in the North Sea in the early 1970s. The station transmitted popular music and entertainment programming in English, Dutch, and German to audiences in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Broadcasting primarily from the radio ship Mebo II in international waters, RNI broadcast on AM (medium wave), FM, and shortwave reaching listeners who wanted more pop music and freer programming than government-controlled broadcasters offered at the time. The station challenged broadcasting monopolies in Europe. Its operations were controversial and sometimes dramatic—facing political disputes, jamming attempts, and even sabotage—before finally closing in August 1974 after new Dutch laws outlawed support for offshore stations.
After the shutdown of RNI, the Mebo II was sold to Libya, where it was renamed the Voice of the Holy Koran and used for government broadcasting in the late 1970s. Below is a letter received following requests to have the Libyan official shortwave station, Radio Jamahiriya, verify reception of the Voice of the Holy Koran. Although Radio Jamahiriya declined to issue a verification, the letter is posted for historical purposes. After years of service, the Mebo II was ultimately destroyed in 1984—reportedly used as a target and sunk during Libyan military exercises—bringing a definitive close to the ship’s storied broadcasting career.
RADIO CAROLINE
In 1988, the famous offshore pirate station Radio Caroline resumed broadcasting to the United Kingdom and Europe from the radio ship Ross Revenge, anchored in international waters in the North Sea. The station aired a mixture of rock music, album tracks, and alternative programming aimed at listeners underserved by mainstream broadcasters on AM (medium wave) and shortwave.
RADIO NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL
Radio New York International (RNI) was a short-lived offshore pirate radio station that broadcast from a ship anchored in international waters off Long Island, New York, in 1987 and 1988. The station aired mainly oldies and rock music to the New York metropolitan area and parts of the eastern United States. RNI was organized by radio engineer Allan Weiner (who now owns shortwave station WBCQ in Maine), who outfitted a former fishing vessel named Sarah with AM (medium wave), FM, and shortwave transmitters in an effort to bypass U.S. broadcasting regulations.
WORLD MISSION RADIO
World Mission Radio was a short-lived offshore religious broadcasting project that operated during the mid-1980s from the radio ship Ross Revenge in the North Sea. The station leased airtime aboard the ship used by Radio Caroline, transmitting Christian evangelistic programming aimed primarily at audiences in the United Kingdom and Western Europe.
These QSLs are the property of Tom Gavaras. Please do not copy and repost the images without permission. Thank you!