Sealand News

Message from the Sealand FA

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:32:00 GMT

Many thanks to all those who came down to support us in our first ever "home" international on Saturday. And thanks for all the emails in the last few days. Our next fixture will be in the Autumn, details to be announced in the next couple of months. We will once again be running a competition to give a Sealand fan the chance of an international cap but please hold off sending in your applications until the competition opens later in the summer!

Many thanks again for your fantastic support,

The Sealand FA

Princess Joan Being Lifted Onto Sealand

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:35:00 GMT

Prince Michael recalling an early memory from his time on Sealand...

When the press came out to visit they would often charter the local Felixstowe harbour tug "Ocean Cock". She was a proud old ship and the engineer would take me down into the engine room where I would stand in awe watching the old engineer throw buckets of oil over the great wheezing and puffing pistons that pounded up and down powering the ancient ship through the water.
He explained to me that she was originally coal fired but had been converted to heavy oil to make life easier for the stoker. He showed me the thick black goo that fired the boilers.
I can understand why men and boys are fascinated by steam engines, they have such raw power. The skipper on the bridge would throw the brass telegraph lever with a jangling of bells and down in the bowels of the engine room the engineer would obey the command. These were backed up with whistle and voice commands shouted down the voice pipe from the open bridge.

The picture shows Princess Joan been lifted from the tugs deck onto Sealand in the stores crate. The hand winch was very slow, it often went wrong and was only held on by two rusty and loose bolts (because we didn't have a drill to make more holes where it was bolted on to the frame of the 3.7" Gun). On top of that, the person cranking it had to take shouted commands from someone peering over the side because he couldn't see what was going on below. Not easy on a rough day when the hook got caught up in the ship rigging! Looking back it was bloody dangerous!

Sealand - A Typical Crew Changeover

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:15:00 GMT

Sealand’s David Blizzard
tells the brief story of a typical security personnel crew-change and some of the action needed for it behind-the-scenes.

Harwich Ha’Penny Quay, 04.30, Sunday 25^th September 2011. The atmosphere is one of intrigue – clearly a lot goes on here, stacks of hustle & bustle; but not at this hour. It’s deathly quiet, save the gentle steely north-easterly breeze and the occasional gentle lapping of the water against the harbour walls.

The very occasional stranger passes by surreptitiously on foot, as I await the inevitable hour-long rush of energy that would form the next Sealand security crew change. The cafés and fresh-fish outlets wait for dawn and another day of trade. A stroll down the floating walkway to the small quay itself reveals a handful of impressive yachts, with their skippers still in deep slumber (or post-Saturday night coma).
Looking back, a hotel boasts just one bedroom light on it’s seaward-facing top floor through half-opened curtains, presumably for another early riser.

Soon, the peace was shattered by the speed and roar of a motor vehicle racing along the quay road; it needed no introduction: within seconds, Sealand’s Michael Barrington was skilfully reversing his truck onto the pier with millimetres to spare either side. I stayed well clear; he’d done this a million times before and certainly didn’t need any help or hindrance from me!
The briefest of exchange greetings was quickly followed by some well planned yet febrile activity that was the unloading of the truck with all manner of contents on to the deck of the small pier area. Another stranger passed by and - without any hint of surprise as to what we were doing - bid us a good morning. The unloading of the truck was carried out in a manner more akin to the incessant feverish shovelling of coal on the footplate of a busy main line express steam engine of the industrial age.

So, goods were soon unloaded and Michael worried about the tender boat having not arrived. He then radioed Sealand from his vehicle and with crystal clear immediacy the reply came back from one of the nine or so crew already out there called Joe, confirming the sea and weather conditions around the Fortress, some six and a half nautical miles away, and the fact that all was ready there to receive us. If only we had a boat.

While Michael went off to park his truck, I minded his stash of food, electronics, software, clothes and other groceries.

With a hasty gait, the eager Sealander was soon heading back towards me along the sea wall to organise and shift his belongings on to the lower level that formed the floating pier, which bobbed almost as much as the boats tied up there in the slight swell. A cursory glance of the harbour was quickly followed by Michael’s brief whinge about the positioning of a couple of the boats that were moored inconsiderately for our loading purposes.
Some of the take-away gear was heavy. But soon, it was all in position and a cellular phone call to the boatman brought news that he was already nearby, on his way to the regular embarkation spot.
Even in 2011, I couldn’t help looking over my shoulder to see if anyone from “officialdom” was spying on us; old pirate radio habits die hard and I had to keep reminding myself this was not one of those risky tender operations for Radio Caroline, with which I had become so accustomed while on similar missions to their MV Ross Revenge from places like Whitstable. No, this was all above board and legal in any Government’s eyes!
The chugging of the small fishing boat was soon heard splashing it’s way hurriedly into the harbour with the boatman and his mate Chris on board, the latter guy being on Sealand when some generators caught fire in the summer of 2006.
A bleary-eyed yachtsman staggered onto the deck of his pride and joy in the quay to say hello; our very focused activity must have woken him.
Some fervent loading of the boat then ensued with all hands. Half way through, Chris scrambled to an upper level near the cafes and ran a long hose down from a large encased pump to fuel the boat.

We were soon unleashed from the wall; then the boatman opened the throttle for the slow exit through the harbour limits and he soon applied more power as we crept out into the open waters and the grey dawn that was, by then, breaking.

Some more sorting of the supplies and personal effects was then carried out, it all needing to be strategically packed into three huge and exceptionally strong reinforced bags, that were originally used for transporting rocks for sea defence work. These bags had chunky eye-hooks on them that would be coupled to one of the Sealand winches upon arrival at The Principality. Delicate stuff on top was the name of the game. A make-shift breakfast of cold Cornish Pasties was devoured as our skipper boiled the water on a gas stove for a fresh cup of tea, while he captained his trusty fishing boat towards the increasingly visible metal hulk that was Sealand.

With the sea being Slight to Moderate and with a favourable wind the voyage was to last just an hour and twenty minutes.
As we drew close to Sealand’s south side, one of the residents was ready to receive us and the steel rope and hook was already semi-lowered to catch the first bag which, in turn was made ready for its ascent.
As we slowed and the boat’s engine revs dropped, we started to bob about more in the swell and this made even standing quite a challenge. But the combined pre-eminent skills of the boat skippers handling of his vessel, together with the split-second timing of (what turned out to be) Joe controlling the winch and Michael managing the freight bags, made the mission run as perfectly as any other.
So, after three goods hauls, it was time for the passengers: a brand new Bo’suns chair was lowered towards us with impeccable care and I hopped on it first, so that I could photograph Michael’s ascent after my arrival on the Fort. Although having done this many times before, my dangling at seventy-odd feet above the North Sea from a fairground swing still sent the adrenalin flowing; the diesel powering the winch got louder and the boats engine got fainter. What if the winch engine stops? What if the Bo’sun ropes snap? These and other paranoiac thoughts always flash through ones mind, in spite of the assurances of previous experiences with this!
Time flew. Michael came up. Was swung over on to the landing area and the boat burbled away towards Holland for some serious crab and lobster fishing. They would return in about five hours after anchoring some 15 miles off Sealand. That was enough time for Michael to unpack, for Joe to finish packing, for us to enjoy a hearty hot meal, and for a good degree of briefing and de-briefing to take place with the other residents and crew members before departure. An inspection of the register (where frequent activities, weather conditions and the like are logged), as well as key equipment and safety-critical areas, was also carried out by Michael in case any questions needed to be asked of the crew member being relieved, before he departed. This time, there were no non-Sealand nationals arriving or departing, so the Passport & Immigration activity was minimal, although – as a dual UK / Sealand Citizen – I did get my UK Passport stamped for posterity this time.

It soon became apparent that the place hadn't changed much in the eight months since I was last there. In fact, Sealand’s Mission of Continuous Improvement had certainly been in action in the time that had elapsed, both cosmetically and in many other aspects. The clinically clean computer Server levels were still clinically clean. One room on the top level was brilliantly painted, apparently using red food-dye to create a subtle shade of warm pink.

Soon, it was 09.00hrs BST and the sun controlled a light hue over the horizon looking back towards the UK. From Sealand’s helipad, The Naze Tower at Walton and the eyesore block of flats on the seafront at Frinton could just be picked out. Looking in other directions, huge container ships from the Far East plied the deep-water channels into and out of Harwich & Felixstowe; fishing boats and yachts dotted the ocean as one looked towards The Netherlands and Denmark. Our boat had disappeared. Perhaps I’d be here for months?
Some of the others milled around the upper and lower levels, some clearly busy with a diverse range of materials, mostly in pursuit of the renovation and improvements to various quarters. Michael was keen to show off his completely refurbished CB radio-room, which also served as a bedroom.
Again, the time flew. A call to one of the other Sealanders from the boatman alerted us to the fact the he should be back at the Fort in around 30 minutes. This gave us sufficient time to carry out a few last minute checks on all the freight and personal effects that had to go back to Harwich.

A small (and I do mean small) dot of a boat on the horizon and a quick check through the binoculars confirmed it’s imminent presence. Donning our life-jackets again, Joe (who’d been in Sealand for three weeks by that time) and I readied ourselves for the descent into the pitching & rolling vessel, now weighed down with his usual respectable catch of shellfish. One of the winch diesels roared into life; I bid Michael farewell; then sat on the red chair and let the rest just “happen”. All I had to do is jump at the right time and the right place on to the rocking boat far below. With Joe and then the freight bags quickly following in a similar manner, we exchanged friendly hand-signals with Michael making the winch safe and we turned away on a heading for port, the engines burbling in a slightly more lively fashion.

The voyage out was one hived with Sealand activity. The return was just as busy, but with packing and preparing the lobster and crab catch for easy off-load and inspection by the authorities back at Ha’Penny Quay. With the sun shining brightly and the waters busy with all kinds of marine traffic, Sealand became a spot in the distance once more and the finer detail of Harwich and its surround could be picked out more and more easily.

Soon we were back inside harbour limits; the quay was packed with day-trippers and others. As we tied up, many – young and old - were eager to see what we were about; but the boxes of fish on ice said it all.
I’m sure not many would have realised where we had actually been!

David Blizzard.

SOPA Bill threatens our freedoms

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:35:00 GMT

The new SOPA bill is yet another attempt to censor the only true medium for freedom of speech and infringe further on the civil liberties of every individual that uses the internet.

SOPA has no respect for local and national laws in various jurisdictions around the world. Coupled with the one sided extradition treaties held by the USA with countries such as the UK it could be a serious threat to civil liberties.
The example of how the USA is pursuing Gary McKinnon, an aspergers sufferer, who let's face it made a mockery of the US defence and military computer systems from an old PC in his bedroom in north London. If we were them would be offering him a job not thirty years in jail. Or Richard O'Dwyer now facing extradition for providing a link to a website readily available on Google.

While Sealand has never supported the infringement of copyright or the theft of intellectual proprietary rights it is easy to see how such a law could be misused by overzealous enforcers.

Governments hate anything they cannot control and this is less an issue of internet piracy and more of an attempt to grasp control over our freedoms of access to free information.

We welcome your thoughts on the subject, please leave your comments below...

A message from Prince Michael

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:39:00 GMT

I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their interest and support over the years.

Please take a moment to share our new website with your friends and family via Facebook Twitter and any other medium available.
Our new website with its forum we hope will give everyone interested in the Principality the chance to give input advice and ideas.

Sealand is in its 45^th year and in the time since its conception in 1967 many countries have been established about the world and many have disappeared. Empires have broken down into smaller independent entities and new borders made.

Many times over the years it has been a physical and financial struggle to maintain the fortress island and keep it secure.
Aided only by our small family and a small band of Sealanders. There is only so much a small group of people can achieve.

To this end it would be great to see discussion on our forum on topics such as economical land reclamation and any international aid that might be available for that purpose, generation of solar, tide, and wind power, coin making equipment, passport production, recognition and any other topics that would help the advancement of Sealand.

I look forward to following the interesting discussions.

Prince Michael of Sealand
15^th January 2012

E Mare Libertas

Our New Website is Online!

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:01:00 GMT

Welcome to our updated Official Sealand web site!

Please take a moment to browse all of the new features!

We have a forum available for Sealand supporters to express their opinions and ideas on anything from the legal/political position of Sealand to what the Sealand community envisages for the future!

The Shop has been modernised and our Media Gallery will contain a vast collection of video, images and sound clips from various Sealand Interviews and documentaries from around the world.

There will be important updates and weekly Blogs by Prince Michael and various Sealand residents in the News section.

The Sealand newsletter will be put out in monthly editions and each one will give an intimate insight into the everyday workings of the Principality of Sealand (Go to the bottom of the page to sign up).

Please post the link www.sealandgov.org to your Facebook and Twitter and help generate awareness of Sealand!

Thanks for everyone’s continued support!

Below is an image of the original site:

Media

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:12:00 GMT

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Sealand News

Message from the Sealand FA

Princess Joan Being Lifted Onto Sealand

Prince Michael recalling an early memory from his time on Sealand...

Sealand - A Typical Crew Changeover

Sealand’s David Blizzard tells the brief story of a typical security personnel crew-change and some of the action needed for it behind-the-scenes.

Sealand’s David Blizzard tells the brief story of a typical security personnel crew-change and some of the action needed for it behind-the-scenes.

tells the brief story of a typical security personnel crew-change and some of the action needed for it behind-the-scenes.

SOPA Bill threatens our freedoms

The new SOPA bill is yet another attempt to censor the only true medium for freedom of speech and infringe further on the civil liberties of every individual that uses the internet.

A message from Prince Michael

I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their interest and support over the years.

Our New Website is Online!

Welcome to our updated Official Sealand web site!

Media

Sealand’s David Blizzard
tells the brief story of a typical security personnel crew-change and some of the action needed for it behind-the-scenes.

Sealand’s David Blizzard
tells the brief story of a typical security personnel crew-change and some of the action needed for it behind-the-scenes.