Radio Ships or Pipe Dream?
Here are the first published pictures of the vessels
The "Grampian Dawn" formerly "Ben Strome" has a tonnage of 272GRT, 89NRT, is 37.9 metres long, 7.75 metres in beam, & has a 3.18 metre draft
She was built in 1962 by J Lewis & Sons of Aberdeen, yard number 318, & registered to North Star Shipping, owned by George Craig & Sons
She was converted into a side trawler in 1980 & classed until 15/7/83 before becoming a motor standby safety vessel - pollution control, in her role as a rig support ship
The "Grampian Princess" formerly "Linden Lea" was built in the same yard in 1960, number 292 & had the same owners
Tonnage, 280GRT, 95NRT, she's 36.89 metres long, 7.88 metres in beam with a draft of 3.89 metres & similarily was converted to a side trawler & classed until 8/4/83 before her role as a rig support ship
Both vessels were purchased recently by an offshore devotee for fitting out as radio ships with one ship destined for RSL broadcasts around the UK
Audio |
Offshore
Radio 'Pirate' Montage |
Starboard side of the Grampian Dawn clearly showing the signs of decay & neglect
Starboard stern of both ships
The Princess from Dawn & her own fore peak
The Grampians from Princess stern deck
Grampian Princess rear starboard side
Stern view of the proposed radio ships Grampian Princess & Dawn Plans were going ahead to moor one ship off the Irish Coast & again broadcast as Radio London or was it a pipe dream!
Who could possibly say!