Fifty three years ago, the radio world
was going to be changed forever for the listeners in the United Kingdom. In the
February of 1964, Irish musician manager and businessman Ronan O’Rahilly
obtained the 702-ton former Danish passenger ferry, Fredericia, which was
converted into a radio ship at the Southern Irish port of Greenore. The Fredericia was renamed MV Caroline [after
the daughter of the late President Kennedy] On 26th March the MV Caroline set
sail under the command of Captain Baeker. Her destination was given as Spain. A
Royal Navy destroyer inspected the MV Caroline as she passed Plymouth. On Good
Friday – Friday, 27 March 1964, at 18:00 hours the MV Caroline dropped anchor
off the coast of Felixstowe, Suffolk, and started test transmissions. The
following day – Saturday, 28 March, broadcasting regular programming started at
12 noon on 197 meters on the medium wave band (announced as 199 meters)