Maritime Radio Day 2024

Registration is now open for Maritime Radio Day 2024 which takes place on the 14th and 15th April. Following the closure of SFK Bremen last year the ROA agreed to host the MRD website and manage the administration of this event. Our sincere thanks to Rolf Marschner/DL9CM, Colleagues, Founders and all those involved in the successful running …

World War 2 book

For information of membership if interested I am publishing the memoir of my late father (Alex. Anderson), ‘Hunter to Hunted – Surviving Hitler’s Wolf Packs’ (Diaries of a Merchant Navy Radio Officer, 1939-45). Graduating from the Dundee Wireless College, he served on Salvesen ships on the North Atlantic Convoys from age 19 as 3rd R/O …

IMPORTANCE OF WIRELESS AT SEA

I attended a meeting last evening, and the topic of diminishing manning and increasing extra duties on the Bridge (and within Engine Room) came up.  The issues appear to be of growing concern.  One former Master Mariner openly stated that the premature removal of Radio Officers is proving detrimental to the efficiency and effectiveness of …

CW on the BBC

Howard, WB2UZE, of the Long Island CW Club (LICW) was interviewed for a BBC radio program about the clubs efforts to teach CW to new operators and keep the craft alive. A Scottish operator was able to capture the broadcast OTA and shared it on youtube.https://youtu.be/a2Sa0ViHMVQ It’s worth the 5 minutes of time to listen.  …

40 Years Ago Today

MBMS de GKA = PORTISHEADRADIO TELEX NR604/30 CK68/66 30/1512Z MAR 82 = MBMS PORTISHEADRADIO = REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT ARGENTINA HAS ESTABLISHED A MILITARY ZONE AROUND ITS MAINLAND TERRITORY AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND HAS SAID THAT ANY BRITISH SHIPS OR AIRCRAFT FOUND THEREIN WOULD BE REGARDED AS HOSTILE AND THAT ARGENTINA WOULD ACT …

QSO March

Another great issue.But one comment re: Tom Merrill’s article “I see no Ships”.Tom mentions the War Office having a tx/rx station located at Boddington outside Chelmsford. Can’t find that, however, not too far from me is an MoD site in the village of Boddington just to the West of Cheltenham. This used to be known …

HMT SS SLAMAT (Lost 27 April 1944) & SS TANDA (Lost 16 July 1944)

The last twelve months have been interesting! We are back in a COVID-19 Lockdown in Brisbane, Australia, so I have time to read through the website. I hope everybody is doing fine. Here is a bit of information about a small “Radio Officer” memorial project that I am working on. I have an interest in …

Social Distance Reading:-)

Hello Everyone, Now we’re in isolation/keeping social distance I’ve been catching up on my reading:-) I’ve just finished reading Radio Man: Marconi Sahib, next it’ll be Take care everyone and keep your social distance & safe.  We will defeat COVID-19. 73 DE Declan G4RGH/EI5EZ

Greetings and best wishes for the new year, from IK0PHU – Italy

Dear ROA Members, let me introduce myself: My name is Antonello Urbani, I am a radio amateur, my call sign is: IK0PHU. I live in Civitavecchia, 50 km from Rome, I am a technical director and I work for a large world company. I am 53 years old. It is with great pride and humility …

ss Explorer Preservation Society

Would you be kind enough to circulate this to your membership please on behalf of the SS Explorer Preservation Society? SS. Explorer,  SSExplorer.org  a large, 1000t,  1955 steam powered sidewinder trawler on the Historic Ships Register is being slowly reinstated as a heritage visitor attraction in the port of Leith, Edinburgh.  It is open for …

Palm Line

Spotted something recently on a book about Palm Line.I did a trip down West Africa on Makeni Palm in ’68.as R/O Skipper was Hughie Bunker and I believe Steward was a chap called Bryce. Anyone help with the book title on info on the two men. Tks Gerry Grimes

The Beacon Man by David Marshall

Published in Nautilus International Telegraph vol 49., Number 11., November 2016. Former MN radio and electronics officer DAVID MARSHALL has received worldwide acclaim as the inventor of the worlds first personal-locator beacon-inspired  by his own experience of falling overboard as a young man. But he hasn’t always found it plain sailing in the business world…. …

Merchant Navy Medal

I have Been Nominated to receive the MERCHANT NAVY MEDAL 2015. The citation is on website thegazette.co.uk goto other notices check 21st October 2015. I consider this represents ROA/MRWS efforts during the Lusitania Event May/2015.and ongoing work onboard the Planet LV 23 berthed in Liverpool.Further Information can be found on the website Merchantnavymedal.org.

QSL Cards

During the recent AGM a collection of QSL cards received by the ROA station, M0ROA, was on display, and many attendees enjoyed viewing them.  Some of these have beautiful or ingenious photographs on the back. In order to share these with the rest of the membership, we are going to load one of the best from …

Radio officers on BBC ALBA

Hi Tony.   A suggestion for those of us unable to access that BBC programme with iPlayer.   Were you to bring a DVD copy to our upcoming AGM get together at Chelmsford, t’would be good!.  Bound to be a decent screen there.     73’s OM,   Bruce Graham.

Ships Callsigns

Hi Everyone Despite my best efforts I have been unable to locate the call signs of the following British vessels I served on as RO. I would be delighted if anyone can help find/supply  them. Many thanks in advance! Shell Tanker    ST Hadriania Stevie Clarke Collier   –  SS Brimsdown Border Shipping  Tanker – MT Border Chieftain …

Newark HamFest

Yesterday I was at the Annual HamFest in Newark,  one of the bigger Amateur Radio annual rallies.  The RSGB had a very large bookstall (the equivalent of about 3 shop fronts), but no copies of our book. The PW bookstall, which wasn’t as big but still worth about 2 shop fronts, had 3 copies when …

German ROA

As the holder of the ROA callsign M0ROA I occasionally have a CW QSO with Rolf Marschener/DL9CM, a leading light in the German ROA and a principle organiser of MRD (Marine Radio Day). We were chatting on the key today and he told me the German ROA had its annual meeting last week, its 60th …

Recent Death of REOU District Ken Klosser

It is with deep regret I report the passing of Ken Klosser who was District Secretary of the NW based in Liverpool. Ken will be remembered by many ROU/REOU members, Ken died in early May and was cremated in Liverpool 6th June. Please read the “In Memorium” Page for the full obituary. RIP