The RNI Story

Radio Northsea International was without doubt the most remarkable of all the off-shore radio stations. In it's four year life, the 570 tonne radio ship Mebo II survived hijack attempts, jamming signals, allegations of espionage, a fire bomb attack, and several broken anchor chains. After the Dutch Government out-lawed broadcasting from its waters in 1974, Radio NorthSea closed down. The ship was later sold to Libya, and was eventually sunk in the Gulf of Sidra.
In July 2008 the name R.N.I / Radio NorthSea International was revived by Garry Stevens and a dedicated team in both the UK, Holland, and Germany as an online radio station. RNI's format is automated oldies during the week, with live or otherwise hosted programmes at the weekends. The stations output is available worldwide, 24hrs/day via several high-quality webstreams, full information is available on the RNI Website:
www.rni.vze.com
On behalf of Radio Northsea International, I have produced this short documentary, featuring off-air recordings of some of the significant events in the life of the station.
The large number of images and video clips used in this presentation were all found in the public domain. Copyrighted audio clips and images are used here according to the rules of fair use and academic quoting in a not-for-profit, educational context. Where known, copyright and authorship is acknowledged at the end of the presentation.

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

RNI was the soundtrack to my youth growing up in East Kent in early 1970’s. Was too late for the first wave of pirate stations but was well served by RNI, Radio Veronica, Radio Caroline, Radio Seagull and Radio Atlantis et al. I always felt these presenters were friends that I had not met. These stations introduced me to music from bands that no one else was playing; Alquin, Focus, Golden Earring, Earth & Fire, Solution, Shocking Blue etc . When you listen to these clips that originally were broadcast on very weak, often crackly medium wave band and compare to current DAB, FM signals it shows how far broadcast sound has come. However then as now, it’s the actual music that counts for me, not whether it is in stereo, dab or fm. Admittedly listening with clear quality audio is much more enjoyable! What a sad state of affairs when playing music was deemed as a criminal act and were hounded off the air.

[@Peppercorn102]

A brilliantly edited video about a wonderful radio station. Thank you for putting this together and posting. Great memories of fascinating time in the history of radio.

[@Vikse58]

So many good memories from those days, and.. I could hear them at the Faroe Islands where I lived then. It was amazing.

[@andrewarthurmatthews9990]

Very good documentary on a fine wireless station that I grew up with and miss so much

[@paustjohn]

Awesome upload!

[@briancollins9583]

great stuff so many memories

[@FiddlerNick]

I remember listenin to RNI from its inceptiion to close down all through my teens on old valve radio sets and later transistorised ones, both the medium wave service and the shortwave "Northsea goes DX" programmes. I have lots of this and the last few hours before closedown in '74 recorded on cassettes - must get these digitised. Thanks for the vid!

[@RTWRadiomann]

Good work , thank you !!!

[@Radiosyd]

A very nice and interesting presentation of the great station RNI. 73

[@frankedwardcurry]

Awesome Documentary

[@PAULLONDEN]

"Man Of Action"by the Les Reed Orchestra.One of the best station calls ever.

[@stuartbrixton6260]

Forgot all about this station.

[@raymondrainbow9962]

Now that's exciting radio!

[@shillyfrog]

Many happy memories of RNI, it was like a breath of fresh air after the closure of Caroline. I do believe I was the only person to record the raid in August 1970 from about 1-30 to 4-00.

[@yacht2007]

The wonderful RNI adventure ends on 31st August 1974; the day democracy died by minister Van Doorn (PPR/GroenLinks) in the Labour (PvdA) cabinet.of prime-minister Den Uyl. Remember that the Conservatives (VVD) were very in favour of free broadcast radio.

[@JJMMWGDuPree]

Our Conservatives were all in favour while the offshore stations were putting them into office, but they did bugger all to help once they were in. The only kind of answer I got from our new MP was that the party couldn't be held responsible for promises made by people who weren't their representatives, so who were those people in official Conservative Party loudhailer vans telling us that only the Tories would switch off the jammer? Strangely enough, the Conservatives have never won in this area since...

[@leemendham4788]

The studio microphones (at least in the early days) were the same AKG type used by many of the 60s pirates... and may have been stolen from the Caroline ships when they were laid up in harbour in Amsterdam!

[@peterdemeteor8399]

It was Radio Nordsee International, NOT Radio Northsea International.

[@RTWRadiomann]

I still can`t believe why there is still no radio back in international waters. Is the fear still as that big among all those authorities ?? The Radioships have never brought up things like uprising and overthroughing regimes like in the past few weeks. Twitter and facebook made it possible , shall we use these new technologies to get our own right to speak and listen to what we want ??? This film makes it clear RNI - will never die !!!!

[@lesliehayton2929]

I remember it like yesterday, music for young Europe, and some of the best music programming, ever! As powerful as radio 1 , signal wise , in keighley West Yorkshire, but it was ALIVE !

[@GeoNeilUK]

I was born in 1977, grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, I think I was around towards the very end of Radio Luxembourg and have fond memories of Atlantic 252. I'd say 252 is the closest I got to the pirate stations. I still miss miss 252 to be honest, even though I don't have a radio capable of receiving long wave, I hear 252 is now the home of RTE Radio 1, which is actually their answer to BBC Radio 4.

[@GeoNeilUK]

I wonder what would have happened if the Marine Offences Act was never passed and Ireland and Scandanavia took laissez-faire attitudes towards the radio ships? Do you think we'd have seen Mebo V broadcasting TV via satellite? Would Long Wave Radio Atlantic 252 ever have happened?

[@chrishenniker5944]

Wasn't there a rumour that it was doubling up as a numbers station after it closed down for the night?

[@GeoNeilUK]

I think there was rumours that the morse code that you heard over their transmission came from them and was allegedly messages to spies.

[@Oldiesfan1958]

Andy has retired , Buster died many years ago .

[@ryszardronikier3588]

Mikrofon D-20 AKG!

[@donaldmcneil2480]

was sad world they only wanted to bring fun to radio

[@Oldiesfan1958]

I ve send you a private message

[@micherickpaolodiazsantos961]

This is a stolen of Dad's army theme song from the BBC

[@paulhager9151]

This 'documentary' is rubbish.

[@JJMMWGDuPree]

Not brilliant, but "Rubbish"? Why?

[@thedrifteruk992]

I wonder if you could do any better !!! No don't answer that. .we all ready know the answer !!!

[@lizparker8798]

You're rubbish mate

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

I absolutely disagree with you. Ok it may not be what we generally accept as a documentary, talking heads, a presenter led examination of a topic etc. Yes this is cut and paste ‘ documentary style video and as a listen back then enjoyed this short flashback as they used to say !